30 FARM GRASSES OF THE U^^TED STATES 



Large seeds, such as those of brome-grass, Johnson 

 grass, etc., may be covered more deeply than such 

 small seeds as blue-grass, timothy, and the clovers. 

 These larger seeds maj- safel}- be put down with a 

 driU. In light soils seeds as small as clover may be 

 sown with a drill. On ordinary soils two inches is 

 deep enough to cover large grass-seed, while half an 

 inch is deep enough for timothy and clover and other 

 small seeds. 



STAGE AT WHICH TO CUT GRASS FOR HAY 



The proper stage at which the grasses should be 

 cut for hay has been the subjedl of much investigation 

 on the part of agricultural chemists. The general con- 

 clusion to which these investigations have led is thus 

 stated by one of our most eminent investigators : 

 "Young plants while rapidly growing contain rela- 

 tivel}" more protein and less fibre than more mature 

 ones; consequently, early cut fodder must be of better 

 quality than that cut late. It is more digestible." 

 We have here three fadls and one inference. As the 

 point is one of much pradlical importance, we will 

 consider it at length. First, the fadls are: 



A. Young, growing plants contain relatively more 

 protein than mature ones. 



B. They also cohtain less fibre. 



C. They are more digestible. 



The inference from these fadts is: Early cut fodder 

 is of better quality' than that cut late. Is this infer- 

 ence justified? Concerning the first fadl, it may be 

 stated that we do not grow the ordinary grasses for 

 the protein they contain, and the fadt that mature 



