The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-11-12
The Ravenna Grange.

Grange was very interesting and we believe
profitable one. After an excellent essay ON
. How can we get the young people into the
Grange by Mrs. N. s. Olin, and select read
ing of an humorous nature by Mrs. H. H. Thomp-
SON. free and full discussion was had upon the
subject of "The Cultivation of Clover and its
Relation to Timothy and Other Grasses
Mr.. Doolittle said in opening: 81 suppose 1t
to be the object to discuss only the leading |
grasses of the Western Reserve, as it is these |
with which we have to deal. In the early farm |
ing days of this section, blue June grass was |
the main reliance. This was about the only |
grass sown. About 40 years ago the disease |
known as Hoof All got among the cattle and
killed great numbers of them. 1 knew whole |
dairies to die from it The cause of tine disease
was finally traced to spur which grew upon
the June grass. On this account this grass was
largely discarded and timothy took its place in
great measure. Clover was but little thought
of from the difficulty found in trying to make it
into hay. The manner of making hay was so
different from what it is now, the work being
done entirely by hand. With timothy, cloudy
or rainy weather could be employed in moving
down the grass, to be cured and got in when the
weather became pleasant. Clover would not
admit of this. But the times changed. Ma
chinery took the place of hand labor, the fer
tiiity of the soil began to decrease and must be
looked to. and the clover gradually grew into
favor. First the small red kind was used.
When properly cured it was found to be per-
feet stock food. When put up SO that the bios
som will retain its original color un til fed out
in the winter it will fatten any kind of stock
Notwithstanding the opinion of many to the
contrary, clover hay rightly made and properly
fed is an excellent feed for horses. Alsike
o1n inf to a nrah hi q Qytpr ant
bee pasture. produced an excellent quality Of
honey. The English or Pea Vine clover, while
not making as fine quality of hay. produces
larger growth of tops and roots and is thus of
more benefit to the soil as a fertilizer. 1 had
one field which had been cropped for number
of years to timothy. When plowed, the soil
seemed to lack life, and had very small crop
following. I stocked to SIN all clover two years.
but did not get catch. then tried the pea
vine and had a splendid catch. 1 measured
clover vines there feet long and roots "a inches
long. let this grow one year without disturb.
ing it and then plowed 1t under. I planted to
corn and harvested 1876 bu to the acre. would
now pasture until June and then grow crop Of
seed 1t has formerly been the custom to NOW
clover two years before plowing. but the ap-
pearance of late years of the clover midge and
the root borer com pei US to plow after the first
81
much larger growth of roots to enrich the soil
than ever after. believe that much clover and
grass seed is wasted by overseeing. Six quarts
of clover seed to the acre. on soil properly pre-
pared, is enough. 1 at one time sowed two
quarts of timothy seed to the acre in the fall
with wheat. And where as I had but half q
crop of wheat on account of its being winter
killed, 1 had an immense crop of timothy. 1
have known farmers to SOW as much as one-half
bushel.''
Mr.. Root said: "a visitor at my place said to
me that he preferred timothy hay to clover as a
milk producer. This is contrary to my exper-
ience."
MIR. Ford said: MY experience has been
mostly with purchased hay. In the way that
hay is usually put up. much prefer timothy,
although clover may be put up as to be equal
to timothy. Timothy should be eut when in
full bloom. or perhaps better just before that
stage. The best piece of timothy that 1 ever
worked in was seeded a little more than 16
quarts to the acre want timothy stalks fine,
and thick seeding produces it. Timothy will
not injure full crop of grain with which it has
been sown. but if the grain winter kill, some
thing will grow and would rather have tim
othy than weeds. Orchard grass, if cut just as
bloom appears, makes a good crop of excellent
hay. Two crops can usually be cut in one sea-
SON. 1t should be seeded thick. and if for hay
should be sown alone or with red clover. 1t
makes excellent PASTURE
Mr.. Doolittle remarked: " From experience 1
find clover hay much better milk producer
than timothy
Mr.. Olln said: If Mr.. Ford had fed his
hay directly from the NOW in which it was
cured instead of after it had been moved from
| another barn. believe his opinion of Its merits
| ed over two or three times wi hout losing a
large per cent of the leaves which form the bet
| ter part of the hay. From two quarts seeding
| to the acre of timothy, have had an immense
yield''
Mr.. N. S. Olin said: "The condition of the
soil has great deal to do with the amount of
| seed necessary to be used. Two quarts on some
soil is good as six on another soil. At one
| time three quarts of clover seed to the acre
| nearly ruined good wheat crop for me. 1t was
sown in the fall. and at wheat harvest was as
| tall as the wheat. 1t was necessarily cut and
bound with the wheat, and although the bum
dies were set up two and two. it was impossible
| to cure them and the wheat musted in the bun
dle.''
Mrs Jennings says that she prefers that the
cows be fed clover hay if she is making the but
ter.
Mr.Williard said: "Cows like timothy better
than clover as is evidenced by the fact that they
| will pick it out from among the clover. The
quality of the land has moro to do with getting
| a good catch of grass than the quantity of seed
sown.''
In answer TO question. Messrs. Ford. Jen-
nings and Olin said they had used air Stacked
lime on hay when putting it into the NOW, with
out any apparent benefit Mr.. willard has
used it for some years and he believes to ad-
vantage. He says that hay may be put in much
greener than without its use. and he has never
| discovered any injurious results. He uses from
one to two quarts upon each load.