The Princeton union., 1891-08-27
TALK ABOUT THE FARM.
INFORMATION FOR
THE FARMER
easturing or Clipping Clover--Ad-
Vantages Of Sheep on the Farm
--Wide or Narrow Tires--
For Increasing Polled
Cattle.
Pasturlng or Clipping clover.

will disclose the fact that the crown
forms just at the surface OF the heground.
1t is we'll known also that clover, al
though vigorous grower, is very
tender plant. Taking account OF these
two facts, a writer for the Practical
Farmer comes to the conclusion that
the greatest injury to clover comes
from trampling by cattle pastured on
it.. Consider, he says, the effect of
placing from four hundred to one
thousand pounds weight on this ten
der crown; it is not surprising that
the plant is injured. Another obiec-
tioniis that cattle will not Craze regu-
larly over the entire ground, but
where the clover is thinnest and needs
most care to help it do it's best there
the stock Craze the closest. .
Stock in grazing do not bite off all
the stems coming from one crown at
one time. Some will be left to con-
tlnue a spindling growth, and plant
so treated will not stool and form
that thick, even growth necessary for
a. large crop the following year. This
writer has found by experience that
to clip clover and leave it on the
ground as mulch is worth more than
all the pasture which can be got from
newly seeded clover; and this is true
whether the field is to be moved for
hay or pastured. It pays to keep
stock off the young clover.
And yet it is an almost universal
practice among farmers to turn stock
into new seeded fields as soon as the
wheat or oats are taken off, pastur-
Ing the clover off close to the ground,
leaving the tender crown and roots
exposed to hot sun and dry winds for
the rest OF the summer and fall, and
to the tender mercies of the elements
during winter. live intend to cut a
crop OF clover-seed for hay, by clip
ping our clover the first year, instead
OF pasturing it off, our clover is ready
to cut for hay from ten days to two
weeks earlier, and all who have exper-:
ience in growing clover seed knowthat
the earlier the hay is cut the better
the crop OF seed. It is probable that in
localities where it is impossible to
raise clover seed on the account of the
clover midge, if the clover was clipped
back, and everything left on the
ground for a. mulch to stimulate a.
rapid and early growth, so as to cut
the hay early before the first crop of
insects Matched, the seed would bloom
and be too for advanced for them to
injure it. .--
The difference in the yield Of clover
when clipping instead of pasturing is
practlced is SO great-often as half a
ton OF poor quality to three tons of
hne hay to the acre-that it is sur
prlslng that farmers so seldom adopt
it. And then the fertilizing value of
a heavy growth of clover is a. matter
OF the highest m moment to the farmer
q matter that he cannot afford to ig-
more in these days OF sharp competi-
tion and small profits in agricultural
products.
Advantages of Sheep on the Farm.
Observation and experience clearly
show that sheep are of inestimable
value in restoring and maintaining
the fertility of the farm. In clearing
and renovating old fields the value of
the flock cannot be overstated, and
there are many poor, briery, bushy
farms in the country whose value
could be greatly enhanced by letting
sheep roam over the fields.
Discussing this topic in the Indiana
Farmer, Mr.. G. P. Smith says that,
while sheep are of great value in keep
ing down the briers, bushes and weeds,
the chief object of keeping them is the
production of wool and mutton,
although some farmers may be in
duced to keep few sheep for the good
which they do to their soil and lands.
With regard to the proper feeding of
sheep during the summer he says that
all important point is the relative
proportion of water in the food re-
quired to get the best advantage.
This is g subject that many flock
masters fail to think about. A good
fattening fodder must not be too
watery, and large quantities of
brewers or distiller's grains, or
even OF roots, are OF far less benefit
to these animals than to cat
tie. Feeding too heavily up-
on roots is not beneficial, for they
are very watery although the English
turnip plays an important part in the
founder Of the English system. In this
country, however, the roots have not
yet been fed in sufficient quantity to
do any harm, but on the contrary,
they have not been fed to sheep
enough.
Potatoes allow q pretty fair ratio
between water and total dry matter,
and they should be fed along with
grains grass and hay. Sheep are
particular in their food and
they will not eat anything distasteful
to them until forced to it by hunger.
But with a little judicious care the
odds and ends on the farm can be fed
to them in such a way as to make a
good cheap fodder, if there is an
OF small potatoes or roots
to give to them do not feed them too
to the exclusion ofgrass, hay