The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1909-09-30
Curing Glover Hay.


aged that II win be necessary TO pillow
II up.
Curing Glover Hay.
Glover should be cut as soon as 1t Il
IN full bloom and before many of the
heads have turned brown. II cut ear
Her II is sappy and hard to cure u
left later IL becomes woody. As soon
as the cut clover has wilted little In
the swalh II should be thrown togeth
er into light windows. preferably With
side delivery rake Cured 10 this
way the leaves are less liable to be
come brittle and shake of Wen cured
clover leaves are almost as valuable
for feed as bran, SO care should BE-
taken to save as many OF them as pos
sille. As soon as the hay has cured
sufficiently IN the windrow II should
be gathered up with loader--if one
can be had-and put In the barn
Clover has the reputation Of being u
troublesome crop 10 harvest. and many
farmers are shy OF II on that account
II Is true that clover growing for prof
demands good deal OF intelligence
bat that Is also the very factor which
brings success IN all agricultural en-
tefpflses With proper attention TO thu
habit Of the plant and with the exer
else Of modicnm OF Judgment In rs
culture and harvesting there Is nothing
10 be feared for the outcome
Where II is desired 10 obtain cror
OF seed the second crop should be used
The first crop seldom fills well and is
always more valuable for hay than
for seed. Most thrashing machines
have clover hulling attachment II
should be carefully adjusted so as to
get al the seed A bushel TO bushel
and bali Of seed per acre Is a good
yield. The yield OF hay is from one to
two tons 10 the acre for the first crop
and little more than half as much
for the second crop Where the fields
are fenced the second crop may often
be pastured TO advantage
Alslke clover finds place on land
that is too wet for the red variety II
dnes not yield as well. but II makes
better pasture, BY loosening up the
sod In the low corners OF the pasture |
with the disk and sowing four pounds |
Of alsike 20 the acre It's value may be
greatly increased. In seeding Geld to |
red clover II Is well TO scatter little |
alsikc IN the low spots. II will be sure |
to grow whether the other does or not
Handling Alfalfa.
What has been said about alfalfa
does not mean that II is not to be
grown AT all except IN the drier re-
gions Of the west. but that II In to be
into new regions carefully |
aud on a small scale. The surest way
10 get stand Of alfalfa is to fallow the
land during the spring and early sum.
ner About the middle Of July seed
bed msy I've prepared and the alfalfa
sown az the rate Of twenty 70 twenty
Eve pounds 10 the acre. II the ground
IS not too dry stand viii usually be
secured IN this way. since the fallow.
ing win have destroyed most OF the
weeds The objection to this plan IN
hat no crop Is obtained from the land
hat year.
A more economical way is 10 start
sith crop Of early oats or barley As
scon as this IN harvested the land
ibould be disked thoroughly and the
Iifalfa seed sown. II the ground is SO
Try ard hnrd that The disk will not
AXE bold II VIII have TO be plowed
The main thing is TO get the seed In M
Iulckly MS possible. The chances OF
eeurlng stand are much improved
{ ihin dressing ~ manure Is given
be land before sowing After the al.
alfa opce gets start II Is very hardy
nd q good yieider. giving four 10 six
mas ~ hay rear II should be cut
ghen slsou, one.ienih 81 the plants are
D ti0om The second spring a disk
m over The 6eld win split up the
rosns aud ihIcken the stand, dIseour.
elnS The weeds and ioosening the sol
. well