S04 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



Mr. Lawes' experiments on sheep, pigs, &c., proves 

 that tliis method leads to erroneous results. Up to 

 the present time, therefore, chemistry has aiforded us 

 BO satisfactory data for determiuitig the best tiine to 

 cut the various grasses for fodder, so as to secure the 

 greatest quantity of food. We must look to the ex- 

 perience of practical farmers. Unfortunately, bow- 

 ever, it is difficult to ascertain how far the recorded 

 opinions of farmers od this point have been influenced 

 by the statements of scientific writers. There is, too, 

 some diversity of opinion on the point, though the 

 majority of farmers appear to be in favor of cutting 

 the grasses when in blossom. Undoubtedly a less 

 quantity of hay is obtained, but it is said to be 

 enough more nutritious to make up for this loss. C. 

 L. Flint, Secretary of the Massachusetts Board of 

 Agriculture, has published extracts from numerous 

 practical farmers on this pomt. We will try and ae- 

 lect out a few, as representatives of the whole. 



One of the most intelligent farmers of Middlesex 

 county says: "I prefer to cut grass when in blossom, 

 because it will make more milk and more fat, and 

 cattle prefer it to that standing later. It keeps them 

 loose and healthy." 



A farmer of Worcester county says: " When de- 

 signed for milch cows, store, or fattening animals, I 

 prefer to cut in the blossom, because it makes more 

 milk, more growth, and more beef. For working 

 cattle and horses, I cut about six day.<? after the pol- 

 len has fallen, because it does not sour or loosen the 

 animal so much as when cut in the blossom.'"' 



A farmer of Hampden county says : " We cut 

 after the blossoms begin to fall, and before they have 

 all fallen. It has more substance and weight cut at 

 that time than if cut sooner — more sweetness and 

 juice than if cut later." 



A farmer of Berkshire county says: "Our rule is 

 to cut hay in the blossom, as it is then in the best 

 state for feeding — less woody and much sweeter than 

 later, and leaves the roots in better state for a second, 

 or another annual crop." 



A farmer who prefers to cut all other grasses when 

 in blossom, says: "It will not do to cut blue joint or 

 fowl meadow till some of the seeds fall, as it will soon 

 run theni out." 



A farmer of Norfolk county says: "We cut about 

 the time the blossom falls. The grass ia then at its 

 full growth. If it stands much longer, the leaves 

 begin to die at the bottom, and the grass grows 

 tough and hard, and I think the longer it stands the 

 less it will weigh when dried, li it is cut much 

 earlier, it will shrink and dry up, and does not seem 

 to have so much nutriment in it, and I have noticed 

 that cattle will eat more in bulk than when cut at 

 the right time." Another saj-s: "The time for cut- 

 ting depends very much upon the use you wish to 

 make of it. If for working oxen and horses, 1 would 

 let it stand till a little out of the blossom; but if to 



ted out to new milch cows in the winter, I would pre- 

 r to cut it very green. It is then worth for the making 

 of milk in the winter, almost double that cut later." 

 A farmer of Middle^e:-: couviiy says: "I cut my 

 red clover before the heads begin to turn brown. 

 Whfn the c'over is quite heavy, [ cut it when only 

 onq-ha!f the heads bave blossomed, b( r-ause then cat- 

 tle \Vin eat all the stems. Clover is injured more by 

 half when it stands long after blossoming than any 

 other kind. I find my clover hay in the barn much 

 heavier when cut quite early." 



Mr. Flint says: " The rej)Iie3 from about one hun- 

 dred and fifty towns, are that farmers prefer to cut 

 the principal grasses, timothy and red-top, when ia 

 fall blossom; red clover when about half the heads 

 are in blossono; and swale gruss before it is ripe, and 

 generally before blossoming, if possible, so aa to pre- 

 vent it from becoming hard and wiry." 



In regard to the best method of Cc^riag grasses for 

 hay, there is also much diver.'iity of opinion. We 

 prefer to mow early ia the morning, spread it out 

 evenly and well as soon as the dew is oif, and put it 

 into small cocks in the afternoon and draw it in the- 

 next day. If the crop is light, it may ooinetiaaes be 

 dried sufficiently in one day. In fact, in o«r dry, hoi 

 climate, hay is very frequently dried too much. We- 

 give a few extracts from Mr. P' lint's Report, before 

 quoted, showing the opinions of pra.etical hay maker* 

 in Massachusetts. 



A fanner of Berkshire county aaya: " If the weather 

 is good and the grass not loo hesvy, we cut in the 

 forenoon and get into the barn ia the afternoon. If 

 the grass is heavy and the weather not good, cut m 

 the forenoon and turn over the swaths at night, and 

 spread and get in the next day. 1 do not believe in. 

 drying hay as much as some do. If not quite dry, 

 two or three quarts of salt to the load will preserve- 

 it, and it will be the better." Aaother in the same 

 county gays: " I prefer to cut hay in the blossom oa 

 a good hay day in the forenoon, and it is fit for the 

 barn, if raked with the horse-rake, and care is used- 

 to turn it over and bring the green grass to the sun, 

 by two or three o'clock in the afternoon of the same 

 day. Much hay is spoiled by being dried too much." 



A farmer of Franklin county says: "Timothy will 

 dry sufficiently for me in one good hay day. I dry 

 less and less every year. If there is no moisture on.> 

 it, there is little danger of hurting after it is wilted." 



Another experienced farmer of Berkshire county 

 says: " My way of making hay is to cut when in blos- 

 som, in the morning, shake it out evenly over the 

 ground, turn it over at eleven o'clock, and get it into 

 the baro on the same day, if the weather is good. 

 But if the grass is very heavy, I pat it into cocks 

 over night. I consider it made, as soon as dry enough 

 not to heat in the mow. To get drier than this is an 

 injury to the hay." 



A farmer in Hampshire county says: "My method 

 is to cut with the mowing machine, which leaves the 

 grass perfectly spread. It is turned over between 

 one and two o'clock in the afternoon, and while still 

 warns, and before the evening dew falls, it is put into 

 cocks. It is spread and turned the next moraing, 

 and at one o'clock is ready for the barn." 



TO CLEAN CHES3 OUT OF SEED WHEAT. - 



In the August number of the Farmer for last 

 year, we published a method of removing chess out of 

 seed wheat, adopted by our esteemed correspondent, 

 John John-ston, of Seneca Go., N. Y. The process 

 is simple and effectual, and its adoption cannot be 

 too frequently urged upon wheat growers. We have 

 received an article on the vexed question of " wheat 

 tuniing to chess," from Mr. J., in which he gives an 

 account of his method of cleaning wheat, and we are 

 glai') to be able to present it to our readers in his own 

 vi'ords. Mr. J. says: 



"f^ome twelve or fourteen years ago, two farmers 

 aud myself -weut to call oa au enterprising, farmer, not 



