The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1895-05-09
Harvesting Crimson Glover.

'u this tioSe WHO nave nitU
little or no experience will need some |.
help in order to avoid losses oftime and |
seed.
The most vigorous growths OF this
clover may be cut before the flowers
come out; and still leave vitality enough
in the roots to make a second growth
and ripen seed.
When this is done, or hay is madefrOm
the crop, it needs to be handled carefully
to avoid losing the leaves.
To make clover hay well requires good
Judgment and quick work at the right
time, and GOODNESS enough to pursue a
'masterly Inactive course with il at
other times. Cut the clover. preferably
late in the afternoon when the weather
promises to be fine. If left in swath,
next morning turn it bottom up If thick
| enough to need it. When well wilted or
just dry enough to rake and to be han
died without breaking. rake into win
drows, or, if thick on the ground, pitch
directly into small cocks. No rolling of
windrOws is allowable, but if raked it
must be pitched into cocks as described,
Bulletin No. 9S, p 149 of the n. c. Expe-
| riment Station.
When the windrow has dried SO as to
be brittle stop work on it. Al evening it
| will'get moist again and may be finished
| between five or six O'Clock and dark.
Examination of the cocks will indi-
| cate when and how much handling
should be given These may stand from
one to several days according to condi-
ton of clover when put up and the
weather. but they should not be left long
enough for mould to start in the clover.
On a bright morning when the outside
has nearly dried off, begin to handle the
clover by taking up thin layers and re-
versing. Take six inches to foot OF the
top at the first forkful from a cock ac-
cording to dryness; and without shaking,
deposit it on a dry place beside the first
| cock but turn the fork in the hand so the
| top of the cock rests on the ground. Ii
all dry serve the next layer the same
way. Toward the bottom the clover
| will be damp, then green and wet. Shake
this up we'll and lay on top as loosely as
possible. The shaking in the sunshine
airs and dries the clover, and reversing
in this way brings the part which needs
further curing to the surface. At the
same time, the limp green clover hangs
down over the top and sides in such a
way as to protect the dry bottom and
middle of the new cock from rain if mod
crate showers fall on it. If need be, go
over the clover again but unless very
heavy on the ground or bad weather en-
sues, cooking over once will be sufficient.
When apparently ready to store begin
early before the morning dew is Off and
load the very dryest. Then before going
to the barn or stack examine enough Tor
next load and probably the bottoms OF
the cocks will be found wet. Tip them
bottom up by first setting the fork at
the edge of the cock so the lift on the
fork will be opposite the usual work with
it. Make forward movement in lifting
and the cockr rolls over while the reversed
fork does not disturb the clover but slips
out easily. Turn the cocks from the SUI
so the damp places may have the benefit
of it's direct rays.
These directions should be modified in
practice to suit special conditions, and
the weather, which can not be controlled
Here is where good Judgment is needed.
In saving seed of crimson clover cut al
, soon as the plants have assumed rici
golden yellow and the seed has hardened
Do not wait for it to get dead ripe
,, because too much of it would be lost.
If the clover is mown by hand, keel
the scythe sharp and carry the clover al
into the swath with a regular AM
steady stroke. 1t may be best to leav
it in swath until ready to house AM
thresh, which must be as sood as dry; o
t | else turn the swath if heavy by inserting
V a broad long-tined fork to the length c
the tines and when tops lie together tur
n over toward the butts of the culms. Who
this side is dry (but not dry enough t
$ lose leaves or seed) pitch into sma
4 cocks and from those to the tight bottor
r wagon which carries it to the stack
e threshing floor. Be sure that the UNLOAD
e ing places have clean, smooth, dry floor
e from which the seed in chaff can b
h | cleaned up, because considerable part {
il is usually threshed off in this handlin
e Threshing small lots as peas or bean
O are threshed is the only way to get tn
@ seed out. This seed is sown in the chat
s, On larger scale a moving machir
t with an apron behind the cutter bar, {
a self rake reaper may be used to cut tn
d clover If a mower is used, a man wit
g. a light wooden rake should follow it U
10 and pull off the clover in gaves, INIT
ting in this the action of the sell, raj
reaper, observing to place each gavel ia
enough behind the machine so as not
at be trampled by the team or machine
IS the next round. They should be
e, placed by the men if turned that tt
he wagon can thread its way through wit
out moving them and two men wit
long broad forks take each gavel
ms lightly and place on the load:
10 With careful active men this an &c
X nomical method of handling and the
ct will be little or no use for a rake VIII
wv the wagons have passed over the field:
on This clover should be threshed, hullt
cd and bagged for market in clover Sc
he huller. Crimson clover should be grow
he in North Carolina in sufficient quanti
us to warrant the use OF a $3.50. 90 huller
almost every county. This would enri
the land, the farmers, and the State
yond estimate.
=. AgricuIturist \. c. Experiment Static
oh