THE HUNTER'S FORAGE 



It is stated that hay retains its nutritive property 

 for about two years, when it begins to decline. 

 Hay is spoken of as being new up to 

 September 29, but strictly speaking, it ought 

 to be called new hay up to one year from the 

 time of cutting. The colour is not necessarily 

 a guide, because some hay remains quite green 

 though cut for two years or more. It is 

 customary to regard comp7'ession in the stack 

 or in the truss as an indication that the hay is 

 old. Hay may be either upland or meadow, 

 or water meadow, in accordance with the locality 

 of its growth. The finest is that grown upon 

 upland pastures and dry meadows, whereas 

 water-meadow hay is very liable to be too 

 much contaminated with aquatic herbage, of 

 little or no feeding value. In the selection of 

 hay, one can often arrange for purchase before 

 cutting, making the necessary arrangements 

 against contingencies. A pasture that contains 

 a mixture of grasses, along with the addition 

 of artificial grasses (clover, &c.), is, in the 

 author's opinion, vastly superior to one con- 

 sisting of a single grass or two, such as 

 timothy, rye grass, or meadow grass. A 



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