298 BuKEAU OF Farmers' Institutes. 



keep the cows indoors during the severe hot weather in fly time 

 and let them out during the night. 



Mr. Smith. — At the State farm, Geneva, we resort to alfalfa and 

 ensilage. The very best results come from both. Last year we 

 fed ensilage during the summer and got fully as good results from 

 it as from alfalfa. If you are going to count the cost of the two 

 crops, together with the expense and convenience, as between the 

 two, we prefer the ensilage for summer feeding. By this I mean 

 green alfalfa. We cut it in the morning, when the dew is on, 

 then allow it to dry and wilt. It is then drawn to the barn and 

 fed. No cases of bloat have ever occurred. About a basketful of 

 alfalfa is fed twice a day to each cow. 



THE CLOVEHS— THEIR VARIETIES AliD USES. 



To Mr. Terry. — At what stage of growth should clover be plowed 

 under? 



Answer. — It is not safe to plow under any green crop if too 

 heavy, because there is a tendency to create acid in the soil, and 

 I should not plow under a green crop of clover. Out the first crop 

 for hay, and leave the second crop on the ground to be plowed 

 under in the spring, for potatoes or corn. During the last three 

 years, we have made two to three cuttings of clover each season, 

 and fed it to our cows. If I were going to plow under a green 

 crop it would be " cow peas." They are nitrogen catchers, and 

 will, besides, furnish humus for the soil. The variety known as 

 " Whipporwill," is the best of the cow pea variety. 



Mr. Cook. — With the dairy farmer, two things must be consid- 

 ered when contemplating a crop — first, its feeding value; second, 

 its fertilizing. When we come to this, if we grow it, clover for 

 the protein ration, is the best. Its nitrogenous value is the great- 

 est of any of our grasses while its fertilizing value is fully at 

 great. 



Is not timothy a better fodder crop than clover? 



Mr. Converse. — No, sir; it is not. I would rather have one ton 

 of clover than two of timothy for any animal except horses kept 

 for speed. But, clover should be cut as early as June 25th, then 

 the second crop may be cut early, and saved in the form of 

 " rouen." In this way we get the feed value of both crops. 



