MANAGEMENT OF GRASS LANDS. 357 



I. HAY-MAKING. 



THE making of hay in a proper manner, is a very nice pro- 

 cess; none more so perhaps in the whole economy of the farm. 

 Much depends upon the period of cutting; it must, however, 

 be determined by the growth of the plants. But it is a com- 

 mon error to allow them to stand too long. They ought to be 

 cut before their seeds are fully formed, that the rich and nutri- 

 tious juices they contain may be to as great an extent as possi- 

 ble retained in the hay. When the stems become hard and 

 sapless, by being allowed to bring their seeds towards maturity, 

 they are of little more value, as provender, than an equal quan- 

 tity of the finer sort of the straw of grain.* 



On the other hand, it is equally injurious to grass crops to 

 cut them too early , as the sap not having properly circulated 

 throughout the blade, the grass, when converted into hay, 

 shrinks, and is materially reduced in point of quantity. The 

 best time for mowing valley or intervale meadows, is when the 

 grass is in full blossom; with respect to upland and other grass 

 grounds, when the tops of the grass appear brown it may be 

 considered as in a proper state for cutting. But Professor 

 Low, in referring to the subject, and speaking of the grasses 

 collectively, says, when the plants are in full flower, but before 

 the seeds are ripe, or even before the flowers of the clovers 

 have begun in any degree to fade, the crop is to be mown. 



Another criterion for directing the farmer's attention to this 

 business, where the grass is very thickly spread over the field, 

 is afforded by the yellow hue which the bottom parts of the 

 blades assume before the grass comes into full flower. In this 

 case also, it will be necessary, as speedily as may be practica- 

 ble, to mow the grass, which will otherwise be liable to rot, 

 or at least to acquire an unpleasant flavour, that will conse- 

 quently diminish its value, t The quantity of the produce may 

 be increased by permitting the grass to ripen its seeds before 

 it is cut, yet the value of the aftermath will be generally 

 injured in a greater proportion than the increased quantity 

 thus gained; besides the impoverishing effects of the plants on 

 the soil, and the less palatable quality of the hay. 



In mowing, the plants, by the action of the scythe or the 

 improved mowing machine,]; are laid in swarths, with their 

 heads lying pretty regularly in one direction. The swarths 

 lie for a short time to wither, and are then turned gently over 



* Encyclopaedia Britannica, art. Ag. 

 t See SINCLAIR'S Hortus Gram. Wobiirn.. 3d 8vo. ed. p. 214. 

 1 NUPEV. 

 22* 



