-80 ON COMPARATIVE VALUE OF CROPS. 



roots are tlie most profitable, and if so, what kind ; if meal, what 

 kind and how used, whether in cut feed, or otherwise. 



Another experiment has been tried by Mr. Daniel Merrill, 2d, of 

 Methuen. The result, as he informed me, was in favor of the corn. 

 The hay used was tolerably good, but not of superior quality. 



I believe the prevailing opinion in our vicinity, among those that 

 have cultivated corn the most extensively, is in accordance with my 

 own, and as I have stated. 



Another subjsct on which the Society has offered a liberal premi- 

 um, is to ascertain the most suitable time for cutting hay. It would 

 be rather difficult for a person to try an experiment which would be 

 satisfactory to himself, much more to make a statement that would 

 be satisfactory to others. There is so much difference in grass that 

 it is difficult to make a rule that will apply in all cases. 



Heavy grass should be cue earlier than light. I think that Herds 

 grass that is a heavy burden, and coarse, if it is to be fed to horses, 

 should be cut when it is full in the blossom ; if it is designed for 

 cattle, especially for milch cows, it should be cut somewhat earlier. 

 If it stands until out of the blossom, and the seed nearly full, it is 

 hard ; it has not that sweet smell, and if the cattle could speak, I 

 think they would say, it has not that sweet taste that it has when 

 cut early. I think the hay will be as heavy if cut when full in the 

 blossom, as when it stands kter. 



If the grass is fine, with a mixture of red top or fine clover, it will 

 do to stand a little longer. 



Clover also, I think should be cut when it is full in the blossom, 

 and if it is heavy and badly lodged, it should be cut earlier. 



The quality of the hay, I think, depends much on the weather 

 previous to cutting, as well as the weather in the haying season, and 

 the manner of curing. A long season of wet weather immediately 

 preceeding the cutting of the hay, injures its quaUty. Berries ripened 

 in wet weather are not so sweet as when ripened in dry weather. 

 Apples or peaches that grow in the shade are not of so good flavor as 

 those that grow in the sun. 



Grass cut when it is rather green, if a long season of wet weather 

 precedes, may not be as good as grass cut some later, providing a 

 considerable season of dry weather precedes cutting, and the differ- 

 ence may be owing to the weather and not to being cut later in the 

 season. 



