The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-07-07
CURING CLOVER HAY.


saving Red Glover 10 rs tn Obtain the Hest
Results from 1t.
Isuppose it is hardly necessary for
me to say any thing in regard to red
clover as farm crop. All farmers
ought to know its value, both as ferti-
lizer and as feed for nearly all kinds Of
farm stock. In this term l include
hogs, as well as cattle. horses and
sheep. At low prices pork can be made
with profit only when grown largely
on clover. Many farmers do not know
Its feeding value, for the reason that
they have never saved it in a manner
to obtain the best results from it. 1t is
usually allowed to get too ripe before
cutting, and is then left in the sun and
dew until it is bleached and blackened,
and when put in the barn has but little
more feeding value than pea straw.
Then comes the question, how shall we
save it9 First, if possible, by all means
build silo to put it in. Build it in
side the barn. Put grout bottom into
the bay, line the sides with tarred
building paper and matched flooring,
and you have as perfect a silo as can
be built. The clover may DO put into
Q silo with less expense, and n UGH less
risk than it can be saved in the ordi-
nary way. But if it is not desired to
have a silo, the next best thing is Il
have practiced it the last fifteen years.,
to cut the clover when it is green, wilt
it in the field, and do the rest of the
curing in the NOW. My plan is this:
Cut before the blossoms are all out (say
little more than half of them); never
commence the moving in the morning
until the dew is off; run the mower
until noon. After dinner. and as soon
as four o'clock, rake, and put up in
large cocks; be sure that it is all done
before the dew begins to fall. A tedder
is use full, and should he had if attain.
able. If put up while the sun is shin
ing ON it warm, tho hay will begin at
once to heat in the cock, and BY the
next morning will be quite warm. The
next forenoon throw open to the sun
short time. and put into the barn as
fast as possible. ! know some readers
will be ready to ask if il viii not heat
and spoil 1t will heat, and that is
what we want to do; but if there is
no moisture in it except the juice of the
hay, it will not spoil, providing tho
barn is reasonably tight. An ordinary
battened barn is tight enough, if the
doors are kept closed, save when
necessary to be open for putting in hay.
If one has large amount of clover to
cut, the mower may be run from. say
three o'clock In the afternoon until the
dew begins to fall. and the clover
handled the next day. If the work
goes on continuously from day to day.
it will be all right, but if from bad
weather or any other cause, break of
two or three days should occur, the
hay will be wet as it falls from the fork,
and it is good plan to pitch off some
of the top to the sides Of the NOW.
When the clover is all in it is well to
put a load or two of dry straw on the
top, otherwise some of the top will he
found spoiled. One word of caution.
\ Do not make the mistake Of surprising
it will be the same to put in soet hay as
green hay. If the rain falls on it. or il
is cut when the dew is on, it must be
dried or it will surely spoil Cor. Prai
RE Farmer.