HINTS ON HAYMAKING 



131 



Mowing machines have greatly altered the conditions of 

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

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

 and in wet seasons this may involve serious loss ; for in a scorch- 

 ing time grass becomes hay almost without any making, and if 

 not promptly ricked it may be so burnt up as to render the 

 fibres hard and woody. 



The stems of grass are protected by a thin coating of 

 silicate, which has been termed ' Nature's waterproof mantle.' 

 Tossing the grass about breaks the stems, and at the fractures 

 moisture enters and decay is hastened. Hence in continued 

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

 left by the scythe or mower, when it will take the minimum of 

 harm. In fine weather the tedding machine should be used 

 much more freely than is commonly the case, for every time 

 the machine goes over the ground a different surface is exposed 

 to the sun. Often, when the end of a field is reached, the 



had been expelled by a temperature of 212° Fahr. A glance at the table will show 

 that the total dry weight of herbage comes out in the same order as the numbering of 

 the plots — i.e. Plot No. 1 yielding the largest quantity, and No. 5 the smallest. 



' By comparison of Plot No. 1 and Plot No. 4 (the first cutting of the latter Plot 

 taking place simultaneously with the haymaking of the district) the loss resulting 

 from late mowing is only too apparent. 



Total Constituents in Lbs. per Acbe oe the different Cuttings 

 produced on each plot. 





Plot 1* 



Out June 3, 



Sept. 2, 



Oct. 29 



Plot 2. 



Plot 3. 



Plot 4. 



Plot 5. 





Cut June 17, 



Cut July 2, 



Cut July 15, 



Out July 29, 





Sept. 17 



Sept. 29 



Oct. 29 



Oct. 29 





lbs. 



lbs. 



lbs. 



lbs. 



lbs. 



Soluble Albuminoids 



124 



120 



85 



68 



177 



Insoluble Albuminoids . 



706 



536 



502 



538 



402 



Soluble Carbo-hydrates, & 



1,144 



1,228 



1,121 



1,089 



1,195 



Digestible Fibre .... 



2,461 



2,294 



2,104 



1,947 



1,874 



Mineral Matter (excluding Silica) . 



442 



368 



370 



376 



348 



Indigestible Fibre .... 



1,860 



2,008 



1,897 



1,755 



1,769 



Water 



21,593 



16,549 



16,550 



13,111 



14,991 





335 



165 



156 



219 



188 



Total produce per acre, in lbs. 



28,665 



23,268 



22,785 

 6,235 



19,103 



20,944 



Total dry weight per acre, in lbs. 



7,072 



6,719 



5,992 



5,953 



* Only No. 1 Plot produced a third crop. 



K 2 



