234 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



we simply wanted a department in some literary institution, 

 wiiere tlie science of agriculture alone was to be taught ; the 

 land and manipulations upon the land were to be left out of 

 sight. But if what I have laid down is true — that the art is as 

 important as the science — then no school of agriculture can be 

 effective which leaves the art out of sight. The two should be 

 combined and always go together. 



You will excuse me, gentlemen of the Board, if I leave the 

 subject here. I believe I have said enough to call out others, 

 and I hope we shall have an interesting and profitable discussion. 



The Chairman. Gentlemen, the subject is open for discus- 

 sion, and we should be glad to hear from any gentleman who 

 has any views to express. We have a gentleman here from 

 Fitchburg, who is eminent as a practical farmer. I think the 

 meeting would like to hear from Dr. Fisher. 



Dr. Fisher. I did not expect to be called upon, and have 

 but very few words to say. One or two ideas have been ad- 

 vanced on which I would like to say a word. 



In the essay by Mr. Hyde on the hay crop, and in the discus- 

 sion which followed, a good deal was said about the early cut- 

 ting of grass. I believe in the early cutting of grass, and I 

 presume I believe in an earlier cutting of grass than any 

 gentleman in the hall. I believe that grass should be cut 

 just at the time when cattle like it best, and that is long before 

 it is in flower. If you will give cattle their choice, you will 

 find that they will take invariably the earlier and shorter grass, 

 before it throws up its flower-stem. It may be that if you cut 

 the grass at that time you get but a very small crop, but it is 

 just as much better as it is smaller. I have been experimenting 

 upon this subject for some years, and I have concluded that the 

 best time to cut herds'-grass, if I can have my choice, is when 

 the seed-stem just begins to show itself, and when the grass 

 averages from ten inches to a foot in height. At that time the 

 grass contains more nutriment than it does afterwards, because 

 as it goes on it changes to woody fibre very much faster than it 

 increases the soluble ingredients which serve for the nourish- 

 ment of the animal. I therefore intend to cut my grass at that 

 time. 



