54 FARM GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES 



may be cut for hay. The same is true of blue-grass, 

 Bermuda grass, and Italian rye-grass. There is doubt- 

 less a best time to cut each of these, but that depends 

 on yield mostly. In the case of grasses that yield a 

 second cutting, like the last two mentioned, the earlier 

 the first cutting is made the larger the yield of the 

 second cutting will be. 



The time of cutting of other grasses is discussed in 

 sufficient detail in later chapters. 



CURING HAY 



The best hay is made without rain and with the 

 least possible sunshine. If it w T ere practicable to cure 

 hay in the shade, the quality would be all the better. 

 The curing of hay is a process of drying and of fer- 

 mentation. Hot sun tends to stop the fermentations 

 which produce hay of good flavor. It is important, 

 therefore, to rake the hay into windrows as soon as it 

 can safely be done. When the growth is light, as is 

 usually the case with such grasses as blue-grass and 

 redtop, and frequently with Bermuda grass, it may 

 be raked up within two hours after cutting, provid- 

 ing, of course, the weather is dry. Heavier growths 

 require a longer time, sometimes one or two days, 

 and frequently the use of a tedder is necessary to 

 dry out a heavy growth of hay evenly, so that the 

 upper portion of the swath may not become sun-baked 

 and dead while the under portion is still fresh and 

 green. 



When any given process can be reduced to definite 

 rules, such rules may largely take the place of experi- 

 ence; but in haymaking experience is necessary in 



