FORAGE CROPS FOR THE SAND-HILL SECTION OF NEBRASKA. 13 



Alsike is handled in very much the same way and seeds as freely as 

 the red clover. In the meadows, however, it of course is not so 

 important that the alsike mature seed, since it is a perennial and does 

 not need to be reseeded often. 



CLOVER SEKD PRODUCTION. 



Since clover seeds so freely in this region, an exceedingly profit- 

 able system of farming is opened up to the sand-hill settler who owns 

 a tract of moist meadowland. There is always a ready market for 

 prime red or alsike clover seed at from $4 to $0 a bushel, and there 

 seems little doubt that with proper treatment a good field of clover 

 should return in this region 4 bushels per acre. Yields much ex- 

 ceeding this have been reported. The seed is not bulky, and the 

 farmer could therefore afford to haul it a considerable distance to a 

 shipping point. If properly developed, this region should become 

 one of die principal sections of the United States for producing 

 clover seed. 



USE OF REDTOP AND TIMOTHY IN HAY FLATS. 



Both redtop and timothy Avill endure considerable moisture and 

 thrive well when seeded on the hay flats. Timothy is no doubt a 

 considerable improvement over the native grasses, and tests shoAV 

 that a more extensive use of it is justifiable. When one seeds redtop 

 on his meadowland, however, it scatters quickly over adjoining 

 territory, and in a few years the meadow has the appearance of a 

 field of redtop. This is due to some extent to the fact that the redtop 

 comes on early and produces seed before the regular haying season 

 of the native grasses has arrived. Thus, like the clover, it is spread 

 broadcast over the entire meadow. 



Redtop is not much of an improvement in quality over the native 



grass for hay, although if cut early, before it is too nearly mature, 



it makes first-class hay. It lacks the vitalizing, strength-giving 



quality of the clover, however, and should be used only on land too 



wet for either alsike or red clover, and there are few places too wet 



for alsike clover. Most farmers regret having redtop on their 



farms. 



WEED PESTS IN MEADOWS. 



Until recently the hay meadows of this region have been remark- 

 ably free from weeds. Sedges and rushes occupy much of the very 

 wet land, but the presence of these in the hay is not considered 

 sufficient cause for its refusal ; in fact, a considerable percentage of 

 the hay from some points is made up of these two plants. 



Thei-e has appeared, however, the squirrel-tail grass {Ilordcan 

 juhatxiu), which has proved such a nuisance in the hay meadows of 



[Cir. 80] 



