134 THE PEOPLE'S FARM AND STOCK CYCLOPEDIA. 



and well cured, is fully equal to that of timothy, and in some 

 combinations it is even more valuable, on account of the larger 

 proportion of albuminoids it contains, but is not considered so 

 good for horses as for cattle. 



When hay is the main object from clover it will pay to sow 

 grass with it. If the large English clover is sown, timothy is 

 the best, and I recommend that not less than double the amount 

 of timothy seed be used that you do of clover, or the latter will 

 entirely smother out the timothy for the first season. If the 

 common red clover is sown, orchard-grass will give the best sat- 

 isfaction, as it ripens with the clover. Clover hay is more dam- 

 aged if wet when partially dried than the grasses, and also by 

 being overdried, for in either case the leaves will crumble and 

 fall off. The best plan is to cut clover in the afternoon, and 

 not disturb it till the next day, after the dew has dried and the 

 top wilted ; then turn and dry as rapidly as possible, and get it 

 into the barn if it will do ; if not, put in small cocks, and open 

 the next day. If the farmer has a supply of old hay or bright 

 straw, and will put a layer of this in the mow every eighteen 

 inches or two feet, the clover may be put in safely with much 

 less curing than if put by itself, as the moisture will be absorbed 

 so as to prevent its taking harm. 



A method of curing clover-hay by its own heat is coming 

 into practice with some of our best farmers. The conditions of 

 success in this method are that it should be entirely free from 

 external moisture, and that it be packed into the mow as solid as 

 possible. The clover is cut after the dew is thoroughly dried 

 off in the morning, and allowed to wilt, and by two o'clock it is 

 ready to draw to the barn ; at the first appearance of dampness 

 in the afternoon the work should be stopped. If more hay is 

 cut than can be taken to the barn it should be cocked up, and 

 these cocks should not be opened the next day till the outside 

 is thoroughly dry, and then two hours' sun will be sufficient for 

 them. When a mow is filled in this way the moisture will gather 

 at the top and spoil a little of the hay, but the bulk of the mow 

 will be found sweet and bright, and of the best quality. 



Clover-hay can not be kept in the stack without damage, 



