Proceedings of the Farmers' Club. 401 



the grass is in full bloom. After the blossoms have fallen, the material 

 that would have made the best of nourishment for domestic animals, 

 changes rapidly into unpalatable woody fiber, which will furnish ani- 

 mals no more nourishment than corn-cobs and sawdust. Great weight 

 and bulk of fair-looking hay may be obtained by allowing grass to 

 stand until the blossoms have disappeared. But the quality is quite 

 inferior. When druggists and botanical physicians gather plants and 

 herbs for medicinal purposes, at what period in the stage of the growth 

 do they cut them ? Always when they are in full bloom, if it is 

 practicable. And why at that particular period of development ? 

 Because, they know that when herbs are gathered at tlie period of 

 full bloom, the stems and leaves will yield a larger per centage of 

 aroma and medicinal qualities than if cut at an earlier or a later 

 period. The same fact holds equally good of all kinds of green fod- 

 der, including the grasses, clovers and maize. Grass that is cut when 

 in full bloom and properly cured, without bleaching, or too much 

 scorching in the sun, or sweating, or heating in the mow, will make 

 hay resembling grass so nearly that the hay will furnish almost as 

 much real nourishment to those animals that eat it as it would yield 

 in a green condition. If grass be allowed to stand until the seed has 

 matured and the leaves and stems have become dry, the hay made of 

 it will go much further than if the grass had been cut when in full 

 bloom, on the same principle that the flour made of unsound wheat 

 will go much further than an equal number of pounds of choice flour, 

 when made into bread. Stock will often eat very poor hay with an 

 apparently good relish. Hunger sharpens the appetite; and they 

 must eat such food as has been prepared, or do worse. But it is by 

 no means a just argument, that because stock eat poor hay with, 

 avidity, all grass should be allowed to stand until it will yield the 

 largest quantity of inferior fodder. The conrect point, then, is to cut 

 grass for hay when the blossoms are fully develojjed. 



Dr. Isaac P. Trimble. — It is a mistake to cut timothy when in 

 blossom. It makes the hay dusty, on account of the great quantity 

 of pollen thus collected. 



Prof. J. A. AVhitney. — There is a scientific principle involved in 

 this matter, which goes to show that Dr. Trimble is mistaken and Mr. 

 Todd is right. In succulent plants the sugar and starch increases- 

 until the flowering culminates ; but when the seed begins to form, 

 the sugar and starchy matter are cemented into an indigestible,.. 



[Inst.] 26 



