32 FARM GKASSKS Or THK UNITKD STATES 



when driven to do so from Iningc-r. II is that which 

 is eaten over and abo\'e a mainUiianco ration which is 

 of real vahie both for work and for animal iirodndts. 

 Is it not better to cut hay at the slago when it will l>c 

 most readily eaten, and then balance up the ration hy 

 a judicious combination of feeds of different ei)iii])osi- 

 tions? The writer believes this to be the ease, and 

 what is said below is based lari;ely on the assmnplion 

 that the best stat;e at which any grass should be cut is 

 determined largely by palatabilily and yield. 



There is >et another facTtor which is really more 

 important than the variations in chemical composition, 

 and that is the efleeft on the digestive organs. C.rasses 

 cut very green are laxative in charac'T.er, while those 

 cut ripe tend to produce constipation, and this is some- 

 times the determining facftor in cutting hay. In prac- 

 tice, therefore, the fadlors which determine the stage 

 at which a grass should be cut for hay are )ield, pal- 

 atability, and effedl on the I)owels. In particular in- 

 stances considerations which are ordinarily minor ones 

 become impontant. In the case of Johnson gra.ss and 

 wild oats, for instance, both of which are vile weeds, 

 >'et excellent hay when cut at the jnoper stage, it is of 

 the utmost importance to cut the hay before any seeds 

 arc mature enough to germinate. In this case all 

 other considerations vani.sh. If the weather or the 

 pressure of other work never interfered with ha>inak- 

 ing, these two plants would undouliledl>' be highly 

 valued and standard crops, for the\' could then In.' cut 

 at a stage which would prevent tlieiu from scattering 

 by seed. Johnson grass presents another ])eenliarity 

 of some importance. It yields three crops a year or- 



