HAY PRODUCTION. 43 



as the fifteenth of September, with good results. About six 

 pounds of redtop to the acre, sowed any time when the land is 

 ready, with an addition of the same quantity of alsike clover, 

 sowed in the early spring following the redtop sowing, will make 

 quite a heavy stand at first cutting and will come to full blossom 

 at the second cutting in September. Alsike clover will thrive 

 on very wet soil, and the combination makes an excellent feed 

 for all kinds of stock, while the quantity will be entirely satisfac- 

 tory as two crops a year for two successive years will be produced. 



FALL PLOWING PREFERRED ON DRY SOD LAND. 



Alany reasons can be given for this, but I will name three only, 

 in the following order: ist, the preservation of moisture; 2nd, 

 the advantage gained in rendering soil fertility available ; 3rd, 

 economy in labor and avoiding the rush of spring's work. I am 

 aware that as to fall and spring plowing there is a difference in 

 opinion. In some cases it may be best to wait until spring but 

 in most cases land can be best plowed in the fall. 



Land that suffers from drought can be much benefitted by fall 

 plowing. It has been found that the difference in the loss of 

 moisture between fall and spring plowing is greatly in favor of 

 the former, amounting to nearly two hundred tons to the acre. 

 The water from the snow and spring rains will be more readily 

 absorbed by reason of fall plowing, and hence will be brought 

 back by capillary action, when the summer months set in. The 

 plowing prevents waste of moisture before it is needed by the 

 crops, as the loose soil will serve as a mulch. Too much stress 

 can hardly be laid upon the preservation of moisture, as it rarely 

 occurs that a quantity of water falls adequate for plant growth 

 during the growing period. It has been found that it requires 

 three hundred pounds of water to grow a single pound of dried 

 corn-fodder, and many more to produce some of the other farm 

 crops. 



Sod land to be used for spring crops will be in much better 

 condition if plowed in the fall. The freezing and thawing of the 

 land during the winter and spring tends to slacken the soil, and 

 renders pulverization much easier. The resources and possibili- 

 ties of our lands will never be unfolded to us until thorough culti- 

 vation takes place and the best methods of fining the soil are 

 employed. 



