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NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Oct. 



mineral properties required in the perfection 

 of the seed, but while the "gum" is still held 

 in a state of solution. The third is after these 

 juices have commenced turning to woody fibre ; 

 the stiffening process required to give the 

 plant strong' h to till up the heavy head as its 

 blossoms change to seed. Now the second of 

 these stages seems to be the one in which the 

 hay should be secured. 



It is then in a condition in which the animal 

 can best obtain the nutritive properties con- 

 tained in the carbon of the plant ; and, al- 

 though the increas-e in hulk of the crop of hay 

 from a given field, which has pasted to the 

 third stage, will be great, yet it is doubtful 

 whether the increase in weight continues after 

 the "woodening" process commences. Nearly 

 as long as the weight of the hay is increasing, 

 I think the quahiy of the grass is improving. 

 The quality ot a pound of hay cut when imma- 

 ture cannot be equal to a pound cut when in 

 the next stage. We see an illustration of 

 this in the cider apples, which, when ground 

 green, pioduce an article vastly inferior to 

 that made from ripe fruit. Jt is doubtful to 

 me whether grass cut in the proper time is any 

 better for any steaming process. 



One great advantage in cutting grass early 

 is in the quick growth of the rowen, which, if 

 not heavy enough for cutting, protects the 

 roots of the grass from the scorching sun, 

 which sometimes produces such sad havoc 

 with the roots of our redtop ; the death of 

 which is followed by a coming in of the wiry, 

 indigestible June grass. Clover, cut early, 

 will stay longer and do better on a field than 

 ■when cut late. 



But when is the very best time to cut grass ? 

 Has the first stage passed before blossoming ? 

 Is there any better time to cut grass, in con 

 sideration of quality, than just as it gets into 

 full blossom ? 



It is rather late to discuss this question, but 

 we can reflect through the winter, and act in 

 summer. If a given field cut in the first of 

 blossoming, wiil give as much weight of hay ; 

 if a ton of the hay will produce more strengtii, 

 more meat, and more milk ; if a gallon of the 

 milk will give more butter ; if the animal ob- 

 taii s more material to produce animal heat; if 

 the manure lei t is better ; if the animal saves 

 labor in masticating and digesting the hay, 

 which helps it to retain fiesh otherwise worn 

 off, and is healthier and better in every way, 

 while our fields are less exhausted of the inor- 

 ganic elements of fertility, and the roots bet- 

 ter preserved from year to year — if all these 

 advantages are to be gained by cutting at that, 

 or at any other par icular time in its growth, 

 rather than to cut later, it is important that the 

 subject receives due consideration. f. 



Franklin, Mxss., August, 18G9. 



Remarks. — When agricultural writers get 

 hold of any subject in earnest we are always 

 afraid of the "other extreme." All farmers 



appreciate a deep soil, but let the writers take 

 up that topic and before they lay it down a 

 furrow twenty inches deep looks shallow — on 

 paper. A wet, heavy soil is a sore annoyance 

 to those who plough the land and hoe the crop, 

 but the advocates of thorough drainage can 

 find no stopping place short of pipe-laying 

 every acre of our farms. Whenever, there- 

 fore, we get the steam up, and the machine 

 under full headway, it is well to have the 

 brakemen at their posts. 



And why is not "after ha}ing" an appro- 

 priate time to discuss any question connected 

 with the subject of cutting grass ? The old 

 adage of "striking while the iron is hot," is as 

 applicable to the thoughts of the farmer as to 

 the iron of the blacksmith. In urging farmers 

 to publish the results of their experience "in 

 season and out of season," one of our cor- 

 respondents added "but, perhaps, better out 

 of season than in." Something to think of 

 there. 



For the New England Fanner, 

 KECREATION FOR FARMERS. 



"Humph !" I hear some fjrmers say, "what 

 does he mean by recreation for farmers ?" £ 

 will try to tell you what I mean. At the pre- 

 sent day it is found that all classes and con- 

 ditions of men are greatly advantaged by an 

 occasional relaxation from their daily round 

 of duty, whatever its name or nature. None 

 seem to be exempt from this law of our being. 

 None can ignore it without serious loss to 

 person and purse. 



The loss to person grows out of the fact 

 that we cannot continue one set of muscles in 

 work, to the neglect of others, without sooner 

 or later overworking the one and impairing or 

 enervating the other. Persisting in this course 

 tends to deteriorate the whole system. This 

 is in all probability less true of farmers than 

 of people in most other occupations. Their 

 necessary labor brings about all their muscular 

 system into use. The extent of the use in 

 their ease is just where the evil comes in. 

 Unceasing toil tells upon them to such an ex- 

 tent as to bring on premature old age. We 

 see them bowed over in what should be the 

 prime of life. They lose their buoyancy and 

 elasticity of mind ; they become taciturn in 

 their homes. A sombre sadness seems to per- 

 vade all around. The wife is too often over- 

 ivorked, and partakes of the same spirit. The 

 children, growing up in such an atmosphere, 

 lose interest in home, — if they ever had any 

 interest in it, — and look forward with longing 

 eyes to the time when they can escape to the 

 city, the west or the sea. Too much of the 

 emigration from our New England farms has 

 its cause just here. I know of individual 



