CROP CHEMISTRY 125 



the leaves. If the plant matures before cutting, the leaves 

 become brittle and are easily knocked off, and in this way 

 protein is lost. Also as a plant grows older, and the seeds 

 form, the ash elements which are of value to stock are gradu- 

 ally lost from the plant, largely by being exuded on the 

 surface of the leaves and washed off by rains. In addition, 

 the older a fodder crop gets, particularly timothy, the less 

 protein and fat, and the more crude fiber and nitrogen-free 

 extract there are in the dry material (See Table V). 



Table V. — Changes in the Composition or Timothy During 



Growth 



(Pounds in 100 of Dry Matter) 



In seed, nearly ripe 5.7 6.6 30.7 54.2 2.8 



If cut too early, on the other hand, the crop will be too 

 small and not a maximum amount of inorganic material 

 will have been absorbed by the plant. In fact all of the 

 constituents will be small in amount. Although the time 

 of cutting hay will vary with the crop and the purpose to 

 which it is to be put, and will also depend somewhat on 

 weather and other conditions, the proper time, in general, 

 to cut hay crops is when they are beginning to bloom. 

 Later, of course, a larger yield will be obtained but the 

 quality will not be as good, and the palatability and color 

 will not be as desirable. 



The proper methods of curing and storing hay are not 

 to be considered in a work of this kind, but there is one 

 practice which should be mentioned here. Some farmers 

 have a habit of mixing salt or lime with the hay in stacking, 

 with the idea of preserving it, especially if it has been neces- 

 sarv to stack the hay a little wetter than usual. Salt and 

 lime may prevent the action of bacteria and fungi to some 

 extent, although no definite information is available. Cer- 

 tainly stock like salted hay, but that is on account of the 



