Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1885-07-18
Saving Glover Seed.

State, and every means should be used
to supply the loss. We know of noth-
ing tbet will contribute so much to
this end as the saving of clover seed,
1t has always been matter OF sur
prise that Tennessee farmers, who use
so many clover seed, have not more
generally saved this crop. 1t is less
trouble than oats or wheat and far
more profitable. No section of the
Union will produce, acre for acre,
larger quantity of clover seed. Three
bushels have often been gathered per
acre, though the usual average is from
one and a half to two bushels.
The first crop of clover coming to
maturity in June has but few seeds,
and it is necessary to remove it, either
by moving or by depasturing with
stock. The second crop which springs
up after the first is removed is the one
relied upon for the production of seed.
The quantity of seed will depend much
upon the weather. Should there be a
superabundance of rain or prevalence
of high winds the yield of seed will be
small, but when the weather is season
able with gentle showers enough to in
duce good growth, with plenty of
sunshine to perfect and mature the
seed, the crop will be greatly increas>
ed.
The second crop of clover intended
for seed should be allowed to stand I'M
til the husks have become quite brown
and the seeds have passed the milky
state. 1t should then be mown and
allowed to lie upon the ground until
we'll cured. After it is cured it is
raked up into swaths. Unlike clover
intended for hay, rain will rather ben.
eft than injure it, making it easier to
separate the haulm from the heads,
which is done by passing through an
ordinary separator. A clover huller
attachment is adjusted to the separator
below the vibrator which bulls the
seeds, and they are separated from the
chaff by the fan, care being taken to
shut off as much air as possible by clos
ing the sliding door of the separator.
The crop Of clover seed can be large
ly increased by top.dressing the field
with stable manure after the first crop
is taken off for hay or depastured.
The earlier the first crop is taken of
after it comes into bloom the more
abundant will be the yield of seed. By
this method as much as three bushels
of seed have been taken from an acre
of well set clover, Uplands, as a gen.
eral thing, will yield more. seed than
bottom lands, though the clover attains
a larger growth on the latter than on
the former About the first of Sep
TENDER is the time the clover is gen,
orally cut for seed, and if the haulm is
exposed to the weather for two or three
weeks it will thresh all the better
The threshing is usually done in the
open field, though the clover may BE-
hauled up after being thoroughly dry
and stacked, care being taken to caE
off the stacks with straw; ofsit may b.
slowed away in barn with a tigh
floor until it suits the convenience O
the farmer to threSh.
The separators usually take one-thir(
for toll.
Some farmers are of the opinion tina
better catch of clover may be obtain
ed by sowing the seed in the chaff
Thirty bushels of seed in the chaff ar
equivalent to one bushel Of clean seed
The second crop of clover is unf
for hay, causing abundant salvation ii
horses. This is probably due to tn
greater quantity of seed which
contains. Nothing is better, how
; ever, to removate CALLED spots in
! field than the straw which may b
scattered over such places, by who
, a good stand of clover is always assur
ed.