Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-10-13

ly believed that cutting clover with the
mower tends to make the plants
stronger below the surface, but it.
should likewise be remembered-and
especially as regards clover that has
been cut the second time-that the
l3cerltad plants require manuring
and mClChing to carry them through
the winter in good health. From what
has been said, we fancy it viii be clear
ly seen that the proper place to put
MAJ ure this fall and winter is upon the
hay meadows, and especially upon such
portions IS may be urgently requiring
1t, as shown by tie light growth of
grass. Where by reason of the rota-
tiOu practiced it becomes necessary to
manure the stubble for corn. the mat
ter is different; still it would in our
opinion be better to manure what grass
there is and on the stubbleS take
another crop of oats and seed it out to
grass and clover. 1t must not be I'M
derStOOd that what we have said in
the foregoing altogether applies to the
old meadows, for we are Of the opinion
that in very many instances it is tho
new seeded grass land that moSt re-
qulre feeding. While it is known that
the grass seeded in oats went on i'm
povcriShcd land the latter should be tho
first 20 receive gOOdly application Of
manure which should be distributed az
thoroughly rs possible to give the best
results. In hauling out the manure
that has accumulated during the sum-
mer season it is best to take the oldest
first for already it has lost part of it's
value and would grow poorer by re-
manning longer to weather" in the
open air. This manure being short is
the more easily spread and should
therefore. be applied to such portions
of thI meadows rs may require it, while
the new made manure may go upon
the parts that are naturally strong but
in need of mulchin@ for winter Where
there is more manure than is needed to
give the meadows Il good coating the
next most deserving place is the pasture
unless it be that some land other than
grass is intended for potatoes or roots
the coming year in which case this
should have the preference and the top
dressing should be deeply plowed under
before winter. As stated heretofore in
these columns we are of the opinion
that clover upon rich land requires
mulching mere than fertilZing, there.
fere the poorest grasses should get the
best manure. while the rest will merely
require light scattering of Strlwy mn
nurc. BY best manure we mean that
which will do most good before winter
and this of course is the older manure
which ca1 be easily distributed among
the 1OOtI of the plants After this is
done an application of Strawy manure
Will also be useful rs 4 mulch and we
have come to the conclusion that where
food is not really required q mulching
with short straw will do great good
In conclusion we are of the opinion that
the chief point III fertilzing western
farms is to deal mOSt literally with the
crop that viii best fertiliZe viz, clover.
Feed the clover and it viii return com
pOunG interest for all that it has 70.
ceired; feed the stubhles and there re-
mains a task that has annually to DO
repeated. Good grass needs food and
well fed grass means general richness
of the farm.