West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-08-19

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some OF the thin spots, or the whole
field may possibly be so badly dam
aged that It will be necessary TO plow
Il up.
Curing Glover Hay.
Glover should be cut as soon ns II IL
In full bloom and before many OF the
heads have turned brown. IL cut ear
Her IL Is sappy and hard to cure. If
left later it becomes woody. AS soon
as the cut clover has wllted little I'm
the swath IL should be thrown togeth-
er into light wlndrows, preferably with
n side delivery rake. Cured I'm this
way the leaves are less liable TO be-
come brittle and shake Off. Well cured
clover leaves ure almost as valuable
for feed as bran. so care should be
taken TO save as many OF them as pos
slble. AS soon as the hay hns cured
suiiclenty In the windrow IL should
he gathered up with loader--if one
can be hnd-and put I'm the barn.
Clover has the reputation of being n
troublesome crop TO harvest. and many
farmers are shy OF Il on that account.
lt Is true that clover growing for profit
demands n good deal OF intelligence.
but that is also the very factor which
brings success I'm all agricultural en-
terprises. With proper attention to the
habit OF the plant and with the exer.
else OF n modicum OF judgment in It's
culture and harvesting there Is nothing
to be feared for the outcome.
Where II is desired to obtain crop
OF seed the second crop should be used.
The first crop seldom fills well and is
always more valuable for hay than
Tor seed. Most thrashlng machines
nave a clover hulllng attachment IL
should be carefully adjusted so as to
get all the seed. A bushel 20 bushel
and half OF seed per acre is n good
yield. The yield OF hay IS from one to
two tons TO the acre for the first crop
and n little more than half as much
Tor the second crop. Where the fields
nre fenced the second crop may often
be pastured TO advantage.
Alslke clover finds place on land
that Is too wet for the red variety. IL
does not yield as well. but It makes
better pasture. by loosening up tho
sod In the low corners OF the pasture
with the disk and sowing four pounds
or alsike TO the acre fits value may be
greatly increased. In seeding field TO
red clover It is well TO scatter a little
alsike In the low spots IL will be sure
TO grow whether the other does or not
Handling Alfalfa.
What has been said about alfalfa
does not mean that it IS not 20 he
grown at all except I'm the drler re-
I gions or the west, but that Il IS to be
introduced into new regions carefully
and on n small scale. The surest way
10 get stand OF alfalfa Is to fallow the
land during the spring and early sum.
Iner. About the middle OF July seed
bed may be prepared and the alfalfa
sown at the rate Of twenty TO twenty
five pounds to the acre II the ground
Is not too dry stand Will usually be
secured I'm this way. since the fallow.
Ing will have destroyed most OF the
weeds. The objection 90 this plan f.
that no crop IS obtained from the land
that year.
moro economical way IL to start
with n crop OF early oats or barley. As
soon as this Is harvested the land
should DO disked thoroughly and the
alfalfa seed sOwn. If the ground is so
dry and hard that the disk VIII not
take hold Il VIII have 90 be plowed.
The main thing is 10 get the seed I'm NJ
quickly ns possible. The chances OF
securing stand are much improved
u thin dressing OF manure IS given
the land before sowing After the nj.
talia once gets n start it is very hardy
ma n good yielder. giving four 20 six
tons OF hay year 10 should be cut
when about one-tenth Of the plants are
~ bloom. The second spring n disk
run over the field win split ND tho
crowns and thicken the stand. discour.
aging tho weeds and loosening the soil
as we'll