Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-05-11
SUCCESS With GLOVER.
Tho Most valuable Cror which tho Dairy
Farmer Can Raise.

SUCCESS WITH GLOVER.
Tho Most valuable Cror which the Dalry
Farmer Can Raise.
II field is seeded with six quarts
of clovcr-sood and an equal amount OF
timothy, clover will largely prcdomi-
nat, during the first and second years.
Under ordinary management, tho
clover will mostly disappear after two
years, and timothy will form tho main
crop. The dccaying clover roots of-
ford nourishmont to the timothy, which
in the two years from seeding has
gained full possession of tho ground,
and tho result is better crop of timo-
thy than would have been obtained tho
first year If the field had been sown to
that alone. 1t Is also truo that tho
field will continue to yield paying
crop for rs many years after tho decay
of tho clover rs IL would II no clover
had been sown; that ia, the two years
of clover add by so much to the length
of time that meadow may be proiita-
bly, cut for hay.
Worry few farmers in this vicinity
have made that extensive use of clover
that the facts above stated would war;
rant, and perhaps still less number
have comprchcndcd its great value in
agriculture. IL will stand drought
better than any other forage plant cX-
ccpt corn. Its roots will penetrate the
subsoi and recover plant food other
wise lost When cut Mt the right time
and properly cured, it makes the best
hay known for butter cows. Tho
manure from cows kept on clover is
of far moro value than when timothy is
fed.
A retired farmer living in our town
who has made small fortune in dairy
farming, savs that he credits the clover
plant with So, 600 of his nccumulations.
His rule for seeding during many years
was fourteen pounds of clover and
fourteen pounds of timothy to the acre.
The growing clover was plastcrcd Mt
tho rate of two bushels to the acre. He
used to the amount of ten tons of
plaster in year. No wonder that hc
was successful. Another wealthy
farmer, an excellent manager of great
experience, said to me that whatever
success he had attained in farming was
to be attributed directly to clover 1t
is singular fact that in the immediate
ncighborhood of such Intelligent, sue
ccssful farmers, may be found those in
great numbers who never use more
than two or three pounds OF clover
seed to the aero, and who donot to this
day succeed in curing clover hay so
that their cows will eat it with relish.
A peck of clover and peck of
timothy sown TO tho acre will secure %
good stand on land in fair condition.
Of course n much less quantity would
do If it all grew, but with thin seed
ing weeds of various kinds will fill tho
vacant space and intlict n positive dam
age by their worthless growth. If the
large clover is sown, it will not lose in
value by over-ripencss as readily rs tho
medium, but it is Il good practice TO
SOW ono quart of the small kind to two
of the large, MS this will secure quick
start of aftergrowth for pasture, and
will also keep the ground fully occu-
pied by useful plants An acre can be
heavily seeded at an expense of -, and
he who tries TO save money by scrimp-
ing in clover and timothy seed does not
practice true economy.
Glover should be cut rs soon as it is
fairly in blossom. A few days delay,
especially with the medium variety.
will greatly lessen its value. Begin
cutting rs soon as the dew is of and all
that can be cut before two o clock may
be cooked the same day. AS soon rs it
can be rnkcd, and while quite heavy
and green, it can be cooked with
safety. If good hay weather follows,
1t may stand two days in the cock and
be drawn tie third day. 1t is somc-
times necessary to turn the cocks over
so that the bottom may be aired for n
time, but usually it may be drawn with
out In case of very hard rain it will
be necessary to spread out the cocks,
but with only ordinary showers they
will dry without this labor. If clover
is cooked the same day that it is cut,
and is cured without opening, it may
be drawn when quite heavy to handle
and still keep perfectly in the NOW.
Such hay is of the highest value for
cows or other stock, but ovcr-ripe or
mouldy clover is almost worthless.
like to see the clover blossoms retain
their red color until they are placed
before the cows Such hay will DO
greedily eaten and there will be no ref