270 MANAGEMENT OF MEADOWS. 



reason why some defer the cutting to so late a date, and that 

 is, it will not lose so much water, and consequently will be 

 heavier and so bring more money. 



A good authority says, "I .cut in the blossom when the 

 hay is designed for milch cows, or for fattening beeves, be- 

 cause in that state it makes more beef, and induces the cows 

 to give more milk ; but if for work stock, horses or oxen, I 

 cut six days later, or thereabouts, because it does not scour 

 or loosen the animal so much as when cut in the blossom/ 7 

 In either case, however, in an extensive crop, if the har- 

 vesting begins at the blossoming period, it will be six days 

 before it is finished. 



It is very evident if the hay is cut after the ripening of 

 the seeds, the leaves will have but little sustenance, and the 

 stems will be only woody fibre, the nutritive elements 

 having nearly all gone to the seed. It is the testimony of 

 most farmers that the rowen or the afterneath is better for 

 milcn cows, and for fattening purposes than the first cut- 

 ting, which goes to prove that the earlier period, that is, at 

 blossoming, is the best, from the fact that the season gener- 

 ally compels the farmer to cut the rowen before the grass is 

 past the time of blossoming. 



Another reason for not allowing the grass to manure the 

 seed, is, that the meadow will sooner run out. When the 

 seed forms, the vitality of the grass becomes impaired, and 

 it falls a victim much easier to either excessive cold or heat. 

 It is the disposition of all vegetation to die after it has 

 made provision for perpetuation, and those grasses that have 

 perennial roots are the exception to the rule, but all partake 

 more or less of this principle. And besides it creates a 

 heavier draft upon the soil than if cut sooner. 



Some exceptions exist in regard to some of the meadow 

 grasses in the list, as will be seen by referring to the table 

 at the end of this chapter. This refers only to some 

 of the coarser grasses, not in general use in Tennessee. For 

 instance, if the "Means" grass is allowed to even blossom, 



