186 WHEN TO CUT GRASS FOR COWS. 



The proper time to lay down lands to grass in the lati- 

 tude of New England is August or September, and no 

 grain crop should be sown with the seed. 



Stiff or clayey pastures should never be over- 

 stocked, but when fed pretty close the grasses are 

 far sweeter and more nutritious than when they are 

 allowed to grow up rank and coarse ; and if, by a want 

 of sufficient feeding, they get the start of the stock, and 

 grow into rank tufts, they should be cut and removed, 

 when a fresh grass will start up, similar to the after- 

 math of mowing-lands, which will be greedily eaten. 

 Grasses for curing into hay should be cut either at the 

 time of flowering or just before, especially if designed 

 for milch cows. They are then more succulent and 

 juicy, and, if properly cured, form the sweetest food. 



Grass cut in the blossom will make more milk than if 

 allowed to stand later. Cut a little before the blossom- 

 ing, it will make more than when in the blossom; and 

 the cows prefer it, which is by no means an unimportant 

 consideration, since their tastes should always be con- 

 sulted. Grass cut somewhat green, and properly cured, 

 is next to fresh, green grass in palatable and nutritive 

 qualities. And so a sensible practical farmer writes 

 me : " The time of cutting grass depends very much 

 upon the use you wish to make of it. If for working 

 oxen and horses, I would let it stand till a little out of 

 the blossom ; but if to feed out to new milch cows in" 

 the winter, I would prefer to cut it very green. It is 

 then worth for the making of milk in the winter almost 

 double that cut later." Every farmer knows the milk- 

 producing properties of rowen, which is generally cut 

 before it blossoms. 



No operation on the farm is of greater importance 

 to the dairyman than the cutting of his grass and 

 r.he manner of curing hay, and in this respect the 



