A THOUGHT FOR HAYING TIME.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 6, 13 August 1874, Page 5

A THOUGHT FOR HAYING TIME.

In answer to an inquiry by a reader of 1 The Tribune ' for the reason why his cows do not expel the after-birth, Prof.L. B. Arnold suggests that perhaps they have been fed upon over-ripe hay, and thus received insufficient nutriment. It is a myetery to me why farmers who feed all their own hay can be so unwise as to leave their grass standing until it is dead ripe. The farmer •who sells his hay does bo because he thinks it weighs more and shrinks less, though where the differencs lies (honestly considered)between selling over- ripe hay, sanded sugar, or watered milk, is not clear to my mind. In either case the purchaser sustains a loss, paying an exorbitant price for a poor article. I write feelingly upon this subject, having bought hay last winter of three farmers, paying 23 dols. per ton. My own supply g^e out early in march r* the cows were then averaging six pounds each of butter. Upon purchased hay they run down to less than four pounds, though fed a larger amount of roots and one quart extra of corn-meal to each cow. Beeides this loss, was the additional labour of chaffing the hay to induce them to eat it, loes of flesh, and less skim- milk for calves. The butter also lost much of its high flavor and rich color. I often wish those men could be compelled to live for one winter upon comparatively harsh and innutrkjious food ; doubtless they would learn something by the experience. I attribute the great superiority of my own hay to these three points : First, early cutting ; second, thick seeding ; and, third, liberal manuring. I believe (would like Prof. Arnold's opinion) that there te more nutriment in a ton ot bay from the meadow liberally topdressed with cattle manure than in the same quantity from a poor meadow. I have seen farmers plow up meadow land, take off a crop of corn, then a crop of oats next spring, and in the fall seed down to rye. Ia a year or two the grass is run out, and the same rotation is gone through again ; seldom, if ever, is any manure used. Surely old mother earth is very patient to bear such treatment year after year, but the end will come at last. To return to tbe hay quesI tion. Those farmers who allow their hay I to get ripe before cutting overreach them- ! selves. Thnothy starts very slowly after j being cut, h bulbous-rooted, and suffers j from the drying effects of sun and wind. If I cut early it soon^tarts again, and if the I aftermath is not pastured such meadows, I with an occasional topdressing, will last for ! years. . _ -