Document Type
Full Issue
Publication Date
6-1894
Abstract
The opinion has prevailed in scientific as well as in practical circles, that hay cut before or during bloom is more valuable, pound for pound, than when cut at a later period, and it is even maintained that the gross product per acre is more valuable. The old assumption, now somewhat modified, that as plants mature a part of the starch and sugar is converted into fibre, and that the nutrition of the stem is moved into the seed, led to the belief that early-cut hay was both more digestible and more valuable than that cut at a later period. The writer conducted experiments in New Hampshire for four years on the influence of the time of cutting on the value of timothy hay, with the result that the hay cut from eight to fifteen days after bloom was equally as valuable, if not more valuable, than the hay cut in bloom. Scientific men at once claimed that this must be an error. Subsequent experiments by others, however, have demonstrated the correctness of the position then taken, so far as timothy hay is concerned. The same was found in part to be true of clover. The experiments in question showed that hay cut after bloom weighed much more per acre than when cut in bloom.
Recommended Citation
Sanborn, J. W., "Bulletin No. 31 - Time to Harvest Lucerne. Mulching." (1894). UAES Bulletins. Paper 1.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/uaes_bulletins/1