FOURTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART IX. 639 



the top of the roots about one iuch under grouud. Then the field can be 

 mown just as close to the ground as one wishes, without any harm, and 

 we have never known such a field to winter kill. This will be the same 

 kind of hay that is cut after the grain crop in October, and will be mown 

 at the same time. 



The second year's hay crop must be handled differently, and will be 

 ready to mow early in June, just as soon as it attains the height of 22 

 inches; and the field must be mown sufficiently high to leave some 

 branches and leaves on each plant; so when the mower is started let the 

 operator, after starting, look well at the stubble and see that some leaves 

 and stubs of branches are left on each plant. If this is not the case 

 much of the alba is liable to be killed; so the above precaution must be 

 adhered to. The hay should be left lying in the field until nearly dry, but 

 not dry enough to shatter off the leaves. It may then be raked into 

 winrows, and made into small cocks before the leaves will shatter from 

 being too dry; and while it is still in a tough state, fit to be hauled to 

 the mow, care must be taken not to let it get too dry, as the leaves would 

 then be largely lost, which are as rich in feeding value as wheat bran. 

 Then, again, if put into the mow too soggy, it will mould in the center of 

 the stack or mow. 



"We find that, with a little experience, we are getting much better hay 

 than we ever had since we began to make sweet clover hay. This second 

 year's crop will make three cuttings here; but it must be got at on 

 time. The first cutting will not be in bloom yet; but the second and third 

 cuttings will be continually in bloom soon after the second growth comes 

 on, and the second cutting should be made when 22 inches tall on an 

 average, and must be mown high, as at the first cutting. But the third 

 mowing can be done close to the ground, as its time of usefulness will be 

 at an end then. The second cutting may be taken for seed, which makes 

 the best crop of seed; but in this case only one cutting of hay can be 

 made and a crop of seed. If seed is harvested, the field will be well re- 

 seeded for the coming season. 



GATHERING THE SEED. 



It is always best to take a cutting of hay first. By doing this a much 

 better crop of seed of better quality will be the result; and the seed crop 

 will handle with one-half as much labor, as the straw will be shorter and 

 much finer. A self-binder is the right thing to harvest this seed crop, 

 binding it up like oat bundles just as soon as the seed shows to be three- 

 fourths black, and the rest a yellow brown. If harvested at this time a 

 heavy seed crop will be secured. Set those bundles in shocks, two and 

 two, just as long rows as you wish, until dry; then, as either stock or 

 hull seed left in the hull often heats badly, we recommend hulling the 

 seed when thoroughly dry. 



CONCLUSIONS. 



Sweet clover will thrive best on soils that contain most lime; and a 

 good liberal amount of lime applied to most worn soils will be found to 

 cause the alba to make greater growth; but it is not necessary for the 



