The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1902-06-12
WHEN TO CUT AND HOW TO
CURE CLOVER.

farmer TO consider what he will do with
il and how he can handle it to the
largest profit. Those who have empty
silos will do well to put liberal share
of the clover ia them, both for economy
of storage and to provide convenient
and serviceable supplementary feed
when the July and August drouths
turn the pastures brown.
silos for this purpose is all too limited
and even those that have them will
want to make some clover hay to 90
with the corn silage next winter. II
follows then, that every man who is so
fortunate as to have clover field
should be interested in the latest and
best methods of cutting the crop for
| hay.
| Glover is at its best. whether for hay
or silage, when in full bloom, because
at the period the nutritive elements are
most evenly distributed throughout
stalk and leaf and flower and the plant
has practically attained its maximum
growth for profitable feeding purposes,
But at every plant does not reach this
stage Of development at the same time,
and if it did it would be impossible to
cut and secure large acreage in one
day, the prudent farmer will adapt
himself to the law of averages by com
mencing his clover haying few days
before half the plants are in full flower,
in order that he may complete it before
many of the stalks have become mere
woody stems, the leaves ripened and
ready to fall, and the heads simply
seed pods and chaf
OF course at this stage Of develop
ment the clover plant contains APP
prOximately seventy-tive per cent of
water and the great problem in hay
making is to get rid of 70 to 50 per cent
of this 80 that the hay when put in the
NOW shall contain less than % per cent
of moisture Bearing this condition
and necessity in mind, the prudent hay
maker will not cut his clover when it is
exteriorly wet with rain or dew. for the
reason that this extra water will eva
porate dry off much more readily
when the plant is standing upright,
where the breeze can get on all sides Of
it, than when lying fiat on the ground.
Next in order comes considerable of
the important but unappreciated fact
that direct sun heat retards rather
than hastens the evaporation Of this
surplus water, because it dries to a
crisp the leaves of the plant which are
the most available avenues for mois-
ture to escape from the stem. No one
needs to accept this statement for the
truth, because it can be easily verified
or disproved by u very simple expert
ment Take several stems of clover
and remove all the leaves from some of
them, leaving the others entire, and
hang them all in the shade, but not
away from free circulation of air
Then note which Of the stems dry ont
quiC kest Or. take several lunches and
spread ont in the hot sun and at the
same time put other lunches near them
in the shade, and note results.
The meaning of all this is that for
celebrity of curing and retention of all
the best elements in the hay, clover
should not be much exposed to the di-
rect heat Of the sun but rs soon AZ it is
wilted, put ii up in small and not too
compact punches, and let free circu-
lation of air carry off the moisture ex-
hailed by the leaves.
If one could be assured of good hay
weather all the time, these lunches or
hay cocks might be left without further
attention for three or four days, then
open mp the mir for few hours, when
the hay would be well cured and fit for
the NOV.
Unfortunately good hay weather can
not be expected all the time, and hence
hay caps are coming more and more in
TO Use IN they demonstrate their value.
A square OF cheap cotton cloth, with a
small stone attached to each corner to
hold il in place when thrown over the
top of II hay cock, is IA sure protection
against damage by rain. This cap need
not necessarily be more than ward
square, but for some purposes 40 inches
square would be better. Two hundred
OF these hay caps, costing $l2 to Sl5,
may be the means of saving several
tons of hay in II single season not &c
mention the saving Of many hours
Of labor in opening up and re.assemb
ling the punches after every shower.
In brief, these directions are. Cut
early, and not when grass is wet with
dew or rain; wilt but slightly, and then
assemble into small lunches wher,
about nine-tenths Of the curing il 10 b,
done cover with hay caps TO protect
: from rain or dew NJ any conyenien,
time, after two to four days, open IN,