St. Landry democrat., 1888-05-12
SUCCESS WITH GLOVER,
The Most Valuable Crop Which the Dair,
Farmer Can Raise

The Most Valuable Crop Which the Dairy
Farmer Can Raise.
If a field is seeded with six quarts
of clover-seed and an equal amount of
timothy, clover will largely predomi-
nate during the first and second wears.
Under ordinary management, the
clover will mostly disappear after two
years, and timothy will form the main
crop. The dccaying clover roots af-
ford nourishment to the timothy, which
in the two years from seeding has
gained full possession of the ground,
and the result is a better crop of timo-
thy than would have been obtained the
first year if the field had been sown to
that alone. 1t is a,so true that the
field will continue to yield paying
crop for as many years after the decay
of the clover as it would if no clover
had been sown; that is, the two years
of clover add by SO much to the length
of time that a meadow may be protita-
bly, cut for hay.
Very 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 comprehended its great value in
agriculture. 1t will stand drought
better than any other forage plant ex-
cept corn. Its roots will penetrate the
subsoil and recover plant food other
wise lost. When cut at the right time
and properly cured. it makes the best
hay known for butter cows The
manure from COWS kept on clover is
of far more value than when timothy is
| fed.
A retired farmer living in our town
who has made a small fortune in dairy
farming. says that he credits the clover
! plant with $1,000 of his accumulations.
His rule for seeding during many years
was fourteen pounds of clover and
fourteen pounds of timothy to the acre.
The growing clover was plastered at
the rate of two bushels to the acre. He
used to the amount of ten tons of
plaster in year. No wonder that he
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 a singular fact that in the immediate
neighborhood 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 acre, 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 the acre will secure
good stand on land in fair condition.
Of course much less quantity would
do if it all grew, but with a thin seed
ing weeds of various kinds will fill the
vacant space and intlict a positive dam
age by their worthless growth. If the
large clover is sown. it will not lose in
value by over-ripeness as readily as the
medium, but it is a good practice to
SOW one quart of the small kind to two
of the large, as 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 s., and
he who tries to save money by scrimp-
ing in clover and timothy seed does not |
practice true economy.
Glover should be cut as soon as it is
fairly in blossom. A few days delay,
especially with the medium variety,
will greatly lessen it's value. Begin
cutting as soon as the dew is off and all
that can be cut before two O. clock may
be cooked the same day. As soon as it
can be raked, and while quite heavy
and green, it can be cooked with
safety. If good hay weather follows,
it may stand two days in the cock and
be drawn the third day. 1t is some"
times necessary to turn the cocks over
so that the bottom may be aired for a
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 over-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 be
greedily eaten and there will be no ref
use to remove from the manger.-C s.
Rec. in Country Gentleman.
An old editor. weary and ill with
The cares and vexations of country
n oxrcra nor. 10 a,, ln.r dn,un nd rolloI |