The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-12-15
CLOVER AND TIMOTuv -
GETHER. '

It is undoubtedly true that
timothy is produced when more
grown alone, than when if is ~ is
in a mixture with clover. Il cUWn
more rapidly alone than with c Iures
1t has a greater sale, at . b; oIef'
price. On the other hand, the fS"eF
cannot give up clover as a nan nlef
his rotation without serious $780, L' o.
Glover has apparently the pown rOsS;
using nitrogen which is not avaiIah Vi
to other plants, such as true oras"oO
cereals, etc. It's deep roots dmas,
upon the plant foods that have b hooS
stored up in the subsoiI, and carr,.
back to the surface large QUANTITY
of nitrogen, potash, phosphoric aniS
and food supplies. So much Of tb;'
material is stored in the surf,ns
roots of the clover, that even attnr
heavy crop Of hay has been removed
there remains in the surface soils .
large quantity Of nitrogen and ash
constituents above the orioinaI
amount, thus forming a very efficient
and cheap fertilizer. 1t is said tO
store up in this manner more than
enough nitrogen for four crops Of
wheat, and more mineral foods than
will be required for the three suc.
ceeding crops Of corn, oats and
wheat. To retain such an efficient
and economical manure is certainly
a great object.
If the chief hay crop is timothy,
this will be impossible. Timothy fed
off from the farm impoverishes the
surface soil rapidly, and if fertility
is to be maintained, requires the use
in the rotation Of large quantities of
purchased manure. But clover hav
finds poor sale, is difficult to cure.
from the danger both of mildew and
of the loss of the leaves, which dry
more rapidly than the coarse stems,
and which contain more digestible
material. By adding timothy, the
danger Of the loss of a hay crop by
conditions adverse to either CROP
separately, is lessened. The two
crops feed on different portions of
the soil, and require somewhat differ
ent foods. Thus an economy in food
results. A greater weight of hay is
produced than when either crop is
grown singly. The mixed hay cures
more rapidly than clover alone, and
the loss Of clover leaves is largely
prevented. The mixed hay is in
many respects better food than the
pure timothy, unless the latter be
supplemented by heterogeneous rye
folders. Mixed hay is quoted at
prices about half way between those
of pure Nc. l timothy and clover.
The increased crop makes up in part
for the difference in price, and under
most circumstances the manurlal
value Of the clover crop far exceeds
the remaining difference.
The most serious objection to the
practice of mixing is the difference
in the time of blossoming Of the two
crops. On many clay soils this is
lost, because the clover natures less
rapidly. Timothy, however, is uSu,
ally allowed to reach a stage OF
development beyond that at when
it is benefited for an exclusive food;
1t is altogether o digestible, ana
contains absolutely more dlgestl0le
heterogeneous matter at the time OF
blooming, than the much greater
weight Of a later cutting will con-
tain. Therefore in practice, tne
interval between the cutting ana
the blooming of the clover may, IN
most instances, be diminished WIN
profit, especially when a large STOCK
of carbonaceous foods is already pro-
vided in the form of corn fodder
Weighing all the pros and cons, 1t
is evident that for the general farmer
the mixed hay will in all p%robaol[IsA}
be the most profitable.-Pr0t; we
liam Frear, State Agricultural C00Sg''
Pennsylvania.