Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1901-08-23

American Caltivator, speaking of
this subject, says:
"When clover sod is desired for
future grain or other crop, it will be
found that the cutting of clover is
generally better than feeding it of,
because every leafiet upward has
rooted downwards, aud if leaflet be
taken off the rootlet will not grow,
so that if sheep or pigs be fed upon
the surface the constant cropping of
the leaves diminishes the under-pro-
duction. Always feeding the top
will leave but few roots below. This
was illustrated by a practical ex2eri-
ment on field of clover divided into
two parts. The whole was cut in
July; half was left to grow again and
the other half fed off. In October
the roots of each division were, dug
up, carefully cleaned and weighed,
with result, that showed proper
tionate weighed of 1920 pounds to
the acre where the clover was cut
once and fed afterwards, while the
cart on which the clover was cut
twice yielded at n rate per acre of
nearly 5000 pounds of roots. The
system of cutting instead of feeding
resulted in leaving two tons extra of
vegetable matter, valuable In nitro
gen, and which had a perceptible
effect on the corn crop that followed"
CLOVER HAY.
Glover for hay should be moved at
the time wheu the nutritive elements
those elements which give strength
and produce fesh-are at their maxi
mum. Those who are in the habit
of feeding stock find that clover cut
about the time of full bloom, when
few of the blooms begin to dry up,
and just as the reproductive functions
are being brought into play for the
maturing of seed, will, pound for
pound. produce more fat and muscle
than that cut at any other stage.
The only art in curing hay is to
retain as many of the life-giving con-
stituents in it as possible, or to pre-
serve it as nearly as practicable in
the same condition in which it is
cut, with the water only abstracted.
The plan generally adopted is to
NOW the clover in the morning and
let it lie In the sun several hours
until a wisp taken up and twisted
will show no exudation of moisture.
1t is then thrown up into small cocks,
say four feet in diameter and four
feet high. In these, unless there is
appearance of rain, it is allowed to
remain for day or two, when it
may be hauled to the barn and stored
away without danger of damage.
Care should be taken not to let the
dew fall upon it as it lies scattered
by the mower after it has begun to
cure. The dew of one single night,
under such conditions, will blacken
the leaves and destroy the aroma for
which good clover hay is so much
priced.
Another plan practiced is to NOW
1t and let it lie just long enough in
the sun to wilt, and then carry it to
an open house and lay it upon beams
or tier-poles, where it can receive
the free action of the air. After a
few days it may be packed down
without any danger of fermenting.
Cured in this way, in the shade, it
retains its green color, is fragrant
and makes a most excellent feed.
The only objection to this plan lis
the great amount of room under Gov
er required for curing and the addi-
tional burden of hauling while green.
Another plan is to haul it up as
soon as it willis, using about half
bnshel OF salt to the ton of cured
hay. A layer foot or more in
thickness is put down, over which
salt is scattered pretty freely, then
another layer and salt, continuing
to repeat the operation until the
space set apart for hay is filled. A
rapid fermentation will ensue, and
the hay will be cured by the heat of
this fermentation, the salt acting as
a preventive against putrefaotion
Instead of salt, layers of wheat straw
may be substituted. BY using straw
the clover may be cured in the field
| The quantity of straw to be used in
the rick or stack depends upon the
moisture in the clover-the greenel
the clover the thicker should be th,
straw. The straw will act as an ab
sorbent, and during the process viii
itself be greatly increased in value
as food for stock, having impaired
to it the flavor and aroms
of the clover plant.
i One of the largest farmers in Ten
nessee, whose land is admirabl,
adapted to the growth Of clover, ant
who has made great success in say
ing clover hay, gives the following
account of his method Of saving it
"Clover should be cut when abou
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