HINTS ON HAYMAKING. 103 



and in quality. The clearing of stones from the field is therefore 

 worth scrupulous attention, and it should be done before the 

 grass makes a start in early spring. The turf must also be well 

 bush-harrowed and firmly rolled down. 



The time for mowing varies in different locahties and in 

 different seasons. But there are sound reasons for urging the 

 importance of cutting the grass young, before even the earliest 

 varieties have formed seeds in their flower-heads. In most 

 grasses, and in all clovers, the secretion of saccharine matter 

 occurs in their stems during the early stage of growth, and 

 the best hay is usually made from grass before the flowering 

 heads have begun to turn colour. Experiments made in the 

 chemical laboratory prove that, although there are exceptions, 

 the great majority of grasses contain nearly double the quantity 

 of nutritive matter before, than they do after, ripening seeds. 

 This applies with especial force to the clovers which form so large 

 a proportion of every good pasture. An objection to the early 

 cutting of grass deserves a passing remark. It is quite true that 

 young grass shrinks more than that of older growth. StiU the 

 balance is in favour of early mowing, for the hay is of higher 

 quality and far more digestible, to say nothing of the advantage 

 of an increased aftermath and the benefit conferred on the 

 pasture by early cutting. 



Mowing machines have greatly altered the conditions of 

 haymaking, and the change is not always in favour of the hay. 

 There is a temptation to cut more grass than can be dealt with, 

 and in wet seasons this may involve serious loss. And in a 

 scorching time, when the grass becomes hay almost without any 

 making, it will be so burnt up before it can be ricked as to 

 render the fibres hard and woody. 



The stems of grass are protected by a covering of silica, 

 which has been termed ' Nature's waterproof mantle.' Tossing 

 the grass about breaks the stems. There is a rent in the mantle 

 by which wet enters and decay is hastened. Hence in continued 

 wet weather the cut grass should be allowed to he just as it is 



