No. 4.] HINTS FOR DAIRYMEN. 275 



with clover, and the two make a ration well suited to milk 

 production. On account of the difficulty of securing a really 

 good clover hay, and the waste and loss so often experi- 

 enced, it seems to be good practice to feed clover green to 

 as great an extent as can be advantageously done. The first 

 cutting of clover comes at a time when pasturage is in full 

 flush and extra forage not so much needed, but the after- 

 cuttings are very acceptable additions to the milch cow's 

 bill of fare. 



A word on the treatment of clover may not be out of 

 place. Belonging to that group of plants that possess the 

 quality of bringing down valuable nitrogen to the soil, 

 clover does not require so much nitrogenous manure as 

 many crops. On the other hand, the mineral elements, 

 phosphoric acid and especially potash, are particularly ben- 

 eficial to clovers. I have observed repeatedly that the ap- 

 plication of wood ashes or muriate of potash to grass lands 

 serves to increase the proportion of clover. This fact 

 should be borne in mind when seeding down, and manures 

 containing a preponderance of potash used when clover is 

 desired. The oft-repeated statement that this crop benefits 

 the land will bear repeating and emphasizing. Both directly 

 by the nitrogen it leaves in the soil and indirectly by what 

 it adds after being fed to farm animals, clover serves to 

 increase the fertility of the farm. Dairymen should grow 

 and feed as much clover as possible. 



Grass. — As a convenience, grass may be fed to cows 

 during haying time, either green, half dry or as new hay. 

 It is at this season, and from seed time up to this season, 

 that labor is in demand on the farm and that the greatest 

 difficulties to the soiling system present themselves. If the 

 pastures will take care of the dairy cows until haying is 

 done, there is usually leisure to provide for them after- 

 wards. While haying is in progress, a ration from the 

 newly cut grass may be fed with little extra labor, and it 

 will be relished and well paid for by cows coming in from 

 pastures already beginning to produce less bountifully. 



Oats. — Following the hay crop, and the first crop of the 

 season's sowing, oats form a valuable supplement to pastur- 

 age during the early part of July. They are relished by all 



