Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-01-07
,sf>s<s.et 80 49, " 2-~NN
81 !! ]. r !; ; u III
HandMng a clover-seed crop.

Handling a Clover-Seed Crop.
Some one has said that one of The
essentials in cooking hare is to frs.
! catch the hare. This applies very
forcihly to the clover crop during the
| last three years, in which we have
had such severe drougnts. Last year
and the year before the best stands
were secured by sowing twice, and
this spring we had an early drought
| that was so hard on the young plants
| that some fields were sown for the
second time.
! / was very successful in securing a
stand this year, says corr espondent
of Michigan Farmer, by narrowing my
wheat when / sowed the clover, this
giving 4 some loose ground to become
rooted in. Now that we have a good
stand, presumably in small grain,
when the grain has been removed, or
say any time during August, accord
ing to the growth Of the clover or the
growth of the weeds, or both the
moving machine should be taken in
close to the ground.
This is absolutely essential to the
successful seed crop, for the following
reasons: First, all weeds that have
come up after the grain has been cut
will thus be destroyed before they
have matured seed for the next
springs growth, and then you have
done a great deal toward keeping
your clover seed free from weed seed.
that so depreciates its value in CT til
cal markets.
Again, by cutting back the larga
rapid top growth that has been mad
you cultivate and stimulate root
growth, thus strengthening the plant,
and making it better able to stand
the winter and the lifting process of
the frosts. In this respect last win
ter was the worst we have had for
years, and did more toward injuring
our prospects for seed crop this year
than any other cause. Again, the
benefit of this forage as mulch Is
very great, especially in preventing
heaying by frost.
Now that we have the C op throug
the winter and making fine growth
in the spring, the first enemy we en-
counter is the clover-seed nudge, an
insect whose history aI1 habits the
most of us are not very familiar with,
but whose capabilities to de troy an
entire seed crop are none the less n
this account.
Our entomologists, whom we employ
to study the habits of these pests, tell
us that the crop of mi 'ge that de-
stroy the seed are Matched GU the first,
or hay, crop Of forage, and that clip
ping the first crop before June l, in
this latitude, when the nudge crop Is
in the egg state, destroys the emit Q
crop of nudge and secures seed crop.
We do not have nudge every year,
but on nudge years we have the al
tentative of hay crop and no seed,
or a seed crop by sacrificing The hay.
This was demonstrated here four
years ago, when all clipped ground
produced the finest crop Of seed, and
where the hay crop WIS allowed to
mature no seed was produced. The
most wholesome advice on this point
is for farmers to sow an increased
acreage of clover and in the spring
when it comes time to clip determine
pust how much is needed for hay and
can be put up in good condition early,
and clip all the rest. You then have
I'M allowance Of hay, and are sure Of
h good seed crop. IN other words,
the seed crop Is Sc profitable hat you
should make 1t point to clip some
ground every year. Then You are
eure of your own seed to SOW and
some to sell.
Farm Water supply
Few farmers remember how much
they appreciate a cool draught OF
water, fresh from the well or fountain
in summer, when providing for the
live stock. Too often the tank or
trough is filed but once in "a hours.
The pigs too often have access to the
drinking places Of the larger stock.
Positive detriment to the stock re-
suits when the water is not always OF
an inviting tempera ure.
As a rule, digestion Is aided more
by good water ever in the resch Il the
animals than any other one article.
The quality is much better II possible
To furnish 1t free from surface impur-
tiles.
The deep wells which are sunk now
400 feet or more below the solid rock
strata will do much TO abolish the
evils attending the su face water.
Where the expense IS great on ac-
count of the depth Of 500 feet or more,
CO. operation OF small farms is adyis-
hble. A town Of 200 or more peop'e
in some parts OF the west is supplied
by two or three deep wells. with no
serious consequences. From two or
four farms might be supplied by a
partnership well, where brains gov
erned the management. Double fences
for few rods, to keep the 8 ock sep
arated by healthful dis ance, would
he the chief cons derati n. Such re-
1~HAN