The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1888-06-02
T.m,thy and ked Glover.

llmothy may properly Oe placed at the
head of all the meadow plants for produc-
ing hay of the finest quality. 1t is peren-
nial in character, and when well established
lasts several years without the necessity OF
blowing up and reseeding. Timothy, how
ever, is not a good pasture grass, from the
fact that it will not bear close cropping as
well as many others. Its chief excellence
consists in its production of hay of the
purest and finest quality for al! general
purposes, and especially for horses, in
which it has no rival. Wherever timothy
aourishes it is universally preferred fol
hay and sells for the highest price.
Timothy is best adapted to a partially
moist peaty or clayey soil, and does MOI
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 sowing is the
more common practice. 1t is advised to
sow seed not more than one ear old.
A good way to test the vitality of the
seed is to sprinkle some on hot fire
out lively popping it should be rejected.
Another good way to test not only timothy
seed, but the seed of other grasses, is to
sow little in box of fine earth and keep
character is determined. Growing the crop
for its seed is quite common in the western
states, and Chicago is the leading primary
market.
Although red clover is not, strictly
speaking, grass, no true grass is entitled
| to higher lank unless it be timothy; and,
indeed, if we were wholly restricted to the
| use of only one of the two, it would be a
difficult matter to say which the country
could best spare. The great value Of
clover as manurial plant and renoYator
of worn ont soils fully makes up for any
deficiency it may have as hay fol- horses.
For cattle, especially cows in milk. where
it's dusty character is not especially OBJ
jectionable, it is usually preferred to timo-
thy.
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 (trifolium pratense) is
the species must generally In use, and for
general purposes is the best of all. 1t is
easily grown on every properly drained
soil. Soils too much exhausted or too poor
to afford clover its nutriment naturally,
with the addition of dressing of barnyard
manure TO give it foot hold, will, by its
persistent use, be brought up TO condition
of fertility, beyond any that can be obtain
grasses
In furnishing vegetable mod and chang
ing har1, compact soils for the better, rec
clover is wholly unexcelled. 1t is one o.
the most important crops for soiling OF
account of its rapid, early growth and thu
large amount of excellent green food grow
ON an acre.
Care must be observed when pasturinI
red clover while wet with dew or rain, a
cattle are likely to eat enough of it t
cause bloating, which not unfrequentl,
results in the death of the animal. 1t is
in fact unsafe at any time to turn cattl
when hungry into large growth of cloYe
and permit them to eat their fill. o
course when it has become partially crop
ped, and the cattle are accustomed to 1t
they may be allowed to gaze at will. Re-
clover is not really pasture plant, and it
best results are realized by soiling or cut
ting for hay and seed A very usual plaI
is to sow clover in the spring, using from
IL to 20 pounds of seed the acre, according
as the soil may be loan or clay.
Clover ought to be cnt as soon as tn
blossoms assume brownish hue and th
swath should lie until well wilted, when /
must be turned over, but not scattered o
spread, and when sufficiently dry be takeI
TO the barn. Glover is more liable to b.
damaged by rain than is either timothy o
red top, hence care should be observed t
protect it from storms.
Half bushel of salt to the ton of hay i
often sown upon the NOV, when clover i
housed in green state. Its proper plac'
in the order of value as farm prodnct i
generally thought to be between timoth'
and blue grass. Clover seed when KEEP
undamaged will retain its vitality for man!
years.
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