338 TESTIMONY OF PRACTICAL FARMERS. 



farmers appreciate the importance of so curing clover 

 as to preserve its tender and succulent foliage. They 

 are careful not to over-dry it, for fear of loss of the 

 blossoms and the leaves. But it is not uncommon 

 among thriftless farmers to handle it in such a way 

 that the best parts of it are shaken off and destroyed. 



The method detailed in the last extract, of mixing 

 clover with a poor quality of hay or straw, has some- 

 times been adopted with great success, the clover im- 

 parting its fragrant odor to the hay with which it is 

 brought in contact, greatly improving its quality, while 

 its own value is preserved without injury. It is not 

 only a matter of convenience, oftentimes, to have the 

 clover so secured in catching weather, but, on careful 

 experiment, may be found worthy of being more gener- 

 ally practised. 



The general testimony of practical farmers, as to the 

 value of clover hay as compared with that of Timothy 

 and redtop, our prevailing natural grasses, varies ex- 

 ceedingly ; some making it of equal value, others esti- 

 mating it at one-half, and from that to two-thirds and 

 three-fourths. 



The practice of raising Indian corn to cut and feed 

 out green by way of partial soiling is very common in 

 New England, as already intimated, in speaking of the 

 natural history of the grasses. This culture has been 

 carried still further by many farmers, and many acres 

 are raised, in various parts of the country, for the pur- 

 pose of cutting and curing for winter use. Great hopes 

 are entertained, by many, of the utility of the culture 

 and use of the Chinese sugar-cane also, which, it is 

 thought may be raised, cut, and cured, in the same way, 

 and for the same purpose. 



The common practice with regard to Indian corn for 

 a fodder crop, and which has been already partially 



