Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1886-08-05
CURING GLOVER HAY.
Saving Red Clover So as to Obtain the Best
Results from 1t.

Saving Red Clover So as to Obtain the Best
Results from 1t.
Isuppose it is hardly necessary for
me to say any thing in regard to red
clover as a farm crop. All farmers
ought to know its value, both as a ferti-
lizer and as feed for nearly all kinds of
farm stock. In this term | 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 itP First, if possible, by all means
build a 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 silo as can
be built. The clover may be put into
silo with less expense, and much 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 useful, and should be had if attain
able. If put up while the sun is shin
ing on 1t warm, the 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
a short time, and put into the barn as
fast as possible. l know some readers
will be ready to ask if il will 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 the
barn is reasonably tight An ordinary
battened barn is tight enough, if The
doors are kept closed, save wher
necessary to be open for putting in hay
If one has large amount of clover tc
cut, the mower may be run from, say
three o'clock IN the afternoon until thu
dew begins to fall, and the clover
handled the next day. If the worl
goes on continuously from day to day
it will be all right, but if from baC
weather or any other cause, break o
two or three G,,y5 should occur, thu
hay will be wei rs it falls from the fork
and it is good plan to pitch off som,
of the top to the sides of the NOW
When the clover is all in it is well Il
put load or two of dry straw on tn
top, otherwise some of the top will b
found spoiled. One word of caution
Do not make the mistake of supposin;
it will be the same to put in ecet hay a
green hay. If the rain falls on it, or
is cut when the dew is on, it must b
, dried or it will surely spoil.-Cor. Pra'
! RE Farmer.