Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-07-06
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abe aaiIp spp.
THURSDAY, july 6, 1864.


THE RED CLOVER CRoP.-The uses and
value of the clover crop should be better I'M
derstood by our farmers. 1t is part of great
system of agriculture which has proved the
most perfect and available Of any. from which
our successful farmers have made this country
not only the granary of the nation, BY fur
nishing Immediately an invaluable ley for the
wheat crop, but has been the immediate source
of much profit in the two articles of hay and
seed. Nor are those all: it is Of one Of the
most available resorts as green feed for swine
in summer; these are the nalu uses of clover,
and are all of too much Importance to be over
looked by those who desire to make farming
pay.
In the best clover districts of Ohio, where
the crop is intended for both hay and seed, it
is customary to take off the hay crop rather
earlier than if designed for hay alone, viz
while the most forward heads are in full flower
SO that the root may not be exhausted and un-
able to throw out vigorous second growth to
mature the seed. In the region Of Crawford,
Hancock, and Morrow counties--the best clo-
Yer district in the Countrywide first crop is
usually harvested about the 18th of June;
then if there are seasonable showers, the seed
crop will mature in August. This last is
usually cut off with scythe or cradle, the
heads threshed off and passed through hull
ing machine. Three bushels per acre of clover
seed is called good average yield in this re-
gion, though some extra fields produce more
than double that quantity.
Glover for hay is seldom estimated at its real
value, and the reason is that it is cured by the
same process to which other gsasses are sub
iected-through dews, rain, and sunshine, and
consequently is but little better than so much
pea brush. 1t will cost no more to do the
r,rl+ xrrho fla foII
instead of being nuisance. is the very best
that can be given to all kinds of stock. Where
hay is the main object, the best time for cut
ting clover is when the most forward heads
have turned brown. Let the moving be done
only in the forenoon, and only in fair weather.
AT about 10 o'clock commence to open the
swaths a little, and let them wilt till or 8
o'clock, p. NJ, when they should all be put
in small cocks, aud stand two or three days.
On the day before the hay is to be put into the
barn, turn the cocks over whole, to expose the
bottoms. In fine weather this is all the making
it will need. When put i'll the barn, do not
fail to scatter good layer Of bright straw be-
tween every s or 10 inches Of pressed hay.
and sprinkle the whole we'll with salt-say 3
or quarts to each wagon load. The straw
will absorb the moisture of the clover, and the
whole will come OUT in the winter, as fresh
and ter der as the most fastidious animal epi-
cure could desire. We have tried this plan,
both with clover and other grass, and found it
to work admirably. There is nothing con-
tributes SO much to "gooa lltek" in getting
stock through the winter, as the laying in
(and properly feeding out) good supply of
the right kind of fodder and this is the time
to be taking the first and most important steps
to secure such q desirable result Ohio CNltf-
rGt0r.