The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-06-20
Timothy and Red Clover.

Timothy may properly be placed at She
head of all the meadow plants for pro-
ducing hay of the finest quality. It is PR
ennial in character, and when web cstab-
lished lasts several years without the ne
cessity of plowing up and re-seeding.
Timothy, however, is not good pasture
grass, from the fact that il will not bear
close cropping as well as many others.
Its chief excellence consists in its produc.
ton of hay of the finest and purest quail
ity for all general purposes. and especi-
ally for horses. in which it has no rival
Wherever timothy flourishes it is uniyer-
sally preferred for hay and sells for the
highest price
Timothy is best adapted to partially
moist peaty or chyey soil, and does not
thrive so well on light, sandy lands.
When sown alone half bushel Of seed
to the acre is the rule it may be sown
in either spring or fall, but autumn SOW
ing is the more common practice. Il is
advised to sow seed not more. than one
year old.
A good way to test the vitality of the
seed is to sprinkle some on a bot fire
shovel, when if it mostly burns up with
out lively popping it should be reject
ed. Another good way to test not only
timothy seed, but the seed of other grass
es, is to SOW little in box Of fine earth
and keep it warm and damp few days
until their character is determined.
Growing the crop for its seed IS quite
common in the western States, and Chi
cago is the leading primary market
Although red clover is not, strictly
speaking, grass, ,no true grass is entitled
to 4 higher rauk miles, it be timothy
and, indeed, if We were wholly restricted
to the use of only one Of the two. it
would be difficult matter to say which
the country could best spare. The great
value of clover as a manurial plant and
renovater Of wOrn-Out soils fully makes
up for any deficiency it may have as hay
for horses. For cattle, especially cows in
milk, where its dusty character is not es-
pecially Objectionable, it is usually pre-
ferred to timothy.
Botanists claim that there are more
than 100 species Of clover, but in this
country only few are cultivated, and Of
these the common red clover ftrif6lium
pratense) is the specie most generally in
use, and for general purposes Is the best
of all. 1t is easily grown on every prop
erly drained soil. Soils too much ex-
hausted or too poor to afford clover its
nutriment naturally, with the addition
of dressing Of barnyard manure to give
it foothold, will, by its persistent use,
be brought up to condition Of fertility,
beyond any that can be obtained from
sowing any of the natural grasses.
In furnishing vegetable mold and
changing hard, compact soils for the bet
ter. red clover is wholly unexcelled. It
is one of the most important crops for
soiling ON account Of its rapid, early
growth and the large amount Of excellent
green food grown ON an acre.
Care must be observed when pasturing
red clover while wet with dew or nin.
as cattle are apt to eat enough Of it TO
cause bloating, which not unfrequently
results in the death of the animal. II is,
in fact. unsafe at any time 10 turn cattle
when hungry into large growth Of clo-
yer and permit them to eat their fill. OF
course when it has become partially crop
ped, and the cattle are accustomed to Il,
they may be allowed to Craze at will.
Red clover is not really pasture plant,
and its best results are realized BY soiling
or cutting for hay and seed A very usu-
al plan is 20 SOW clover in the spring,
using fron@l2 to 90 pounds Of seed to the
acre, according as the soil may be loam
or clay.
Clover ought to be cut as son as the
blossoms assume a brownish hue. and
the swath should lie until well wilted.
when it must be turned over, but not
scattered or spread. and when sufficiently
dry be taken to the barn Clover Is more
liable to be damaged by rain than is
either timothy or red top. hence care
should be observed to protect it from
storms.
Half bushel Of salt TO a ton Of hay
is often sown upon the NOV, when clover
is housed in a green state. It's proper
place in the order of value as 4 farm pro-
duct is generally thought to be between
timothy and blue grass. Clover seed
when kept undamaged will retain It's 81
tality for many wears.