¥ ed 
278 REPORT OF THE FARM SUPERINTENDENT OF THE 
Samples were taken from every plat to determine the amount of | 
dry matter. Only single samples were taken of plats A to E, but the 
remainder were taken in duplicate. All the samples were taken 
July fifth, and the grass on plats A to J was cut immediately after 
sampling, but that on plats L to O was cut on the morning of sixth 
after all dew had disappeared. In taking samples care was exer- 
cised to get as near the average of the growth at the point where © 
taken; to cut as near the height that the machine cut as possible, 
and to get six or seven wisps from nearly equidistant parts of each 
plat. As soon as taken each sample was cut to short lengths and 
tied in a tarred cheese cloth and immediately weighed. 
Methods of cutting. The grass having been mown up to one side 
of a plat a strong garden line was stretched over the line on the 
opposite side and the machine driven as near as practicable with 
the line of the driver’s left. The return trip cut nearly or quite 
to the line, and while the machine cut the remainder of the plat, a 
hand scythe trimmed the edge to the straight line. After raking 
up the plat grass the machine cut away the intermediate and the 
line was straightened by the hand scythe for the next plat. 
This method insured as even a cut for all the plats as could 
have been desired. 
Immediately after cutting each plat and before paginting 
another, the grass was raked up clear and weighed. After weigh- 
ing, the grass was spread out to dry. When the first ten plats 
as 
had been cut and weighed, a second horse was brought into use. — 
and the grass loaded on single wagons and each plat drawn sepa- 
rately to the five-ton scales near the barn, weighed and then 
spread on its own plat. This proved to be more expeditious and 
less laborious than weighing in the field. The weather was fine — 
for making hay and by noon of the sixth that cut first was ready 
to be stored, while the last cut required to be turned twice before 
dry enough to be drawn and weighed as hay, which was done 
during the afternoon of the sixth. 
The tables of harvest weights, with deductions therefrom, are 
given separately for each series. Each table includes several 
columns which may be of interest, but which are not essential to 
show the relation of the yields per plat. These are the weight of — 
green grass per acre; the per cent of moisture lost in curing, and 
the per cent of moisture lef{ in the cured hay. 
SS Dy See 
tne: he oe 
