590 Grasses and Leguminous Crops in New York 



While the alsike adds to the volume and to the feeding value of 

 the hay, it detracts from the selling value, and on rich land is 

 likely to remain for several years. When the hay is grown for 

 city markets, I find it better to leave out the alsike. 



We put half of the seed in the drill with the fertilizer; this 

 saves labor. The other half is sown the opposite way with a 

 weeder, seeder, or by hand, whichever is most convenient. In 

 the latter case, a slant-tooth harrow is used to cover the seed and 

 fine the land ; then the roller — one with a corrugated surface — 

 is best. 



CONCLUSION 



"A lot of work," someone says. Yes, a little more than with a 

 winter grain crop properly put in, but the results justify the 

 expense. I could tell, and have my statements verified by my 

 neighbors, of some marvellous crops ; suffice to say that we expect 

 and obtain at the first cutting fully three tons to the acre of clean, 

 first-class hay. In years like the past, of abundant rainfall, we 

 sometimes cut a second crop, but usually it is wiser to let this go 

 back as humus. Such a crop nets more than an acre of wheat or 

 rye and is more certain, since there is little danger of winter-kill- 

 ing. Also, the meadow can be held fully a year longer than if 

 the seed had been put in with a grain crop. By the application 

 of commercial fertilizers, as described on page 2768, a profitable 

 yield can be maintained, and the life of the meadow prolonged. 

 When manure is at hand, we top-dress the third or fourth year. 

 In a word, this is the Clark method brought down to farm prac- 

 tice. 



