CHAPTER IX. 



TIME AND MODE OF CUTTING GRASS FOR HAY. 



HAVING carefully selected and judiciously mixed and 

 sown his grass-seed at a proper season, on land properly 

 prepared, the farmer may confidently hope to have an 

 abundant crop of grass the following year, when there 

 naturally arises one of the most important questions in 

 the economy of the farm, and that is when to cut grass 

 to make into hay, or at what stage of its growth it is 

 most valuable for that purpose. This is a point on 

 which even experienced farmers differ, but the weight 

 of authority will be found strongly for cutting at the 

 time of flowering. 



Most practical farmers, in answer to this question, 

 say that hay is sweeter, and possesses more nutriment, 

 when cut in full blossom, than at any other stage. One 

 of the most intelligent farmers in the country says : " I 

 prefer to cut grass when in blossom, because it will 

 make more milk and more fat, and cattle prefer it to 

 that standing later. It keeps them healthy. I have no 

 doubt hay of the same bulk weighs more if it stands in 

 the field till the seed forms, and for this reason some 

 who sell most of their hay let it stand." " When de- 

 signed for milch cows, store, or fattening animals," 

 says another, " I prefer to cut in the blossom, because 

 it makes more milk, more growth, and more beef. For 

 working cattle and horses I cut about six days after the 

 pollen has fallen, because it does not scour or loosen 



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