Treatment of Clover. 133 



shading the ground until the clover can get started. " Rake 

 up in the hay the next season?" Not' a bit; all gone into a sort of 

 mould on the surface before then. 



Now we have fed the feeble clover what next ? When the 

 best clover gets, say, a foot high, or a little less, I mow the field 

 all over, taking off track clearers so as not to bunch clover at all. 

 If I do make a bunch I get off and spread it. I want it to 

 fall evenly, and there I let it lie and shrink up. More mulch. 

 Of course, the wheat stubble is cut off and falls down. More 

 mulch. If there are any weeds, they are prevented from going 

 to seed and go to make more mulch and more fertility. The 

 knife of mover is run as high as we can set it. I do not want to cut 

 off the feeble plants that are just starting on poor spots much. 

 I do not want to cut any close. I want to keep some for shade. 

 A little clipping of the top thickens top and root growth. Where 

 the clover is heaviest there will be quite a mulch-from the tops and 

 stubble; where it is light the manure helps makeup. Result, 

 fairly mulched all over. When best clover gets near a foot high, 

 again repeat the mowing. Once in a while the season is so dry 

 one mowing is enough. The last mowing should not be later 

 than middle of September, here in Northern Ohio, as the clover 

 after that will only have sufficient time to make proper growth 

 for winter protection. I would not do either mowing in a dry, 

 hot time, unless necessary to destroy weeds before they went to 

 seed. Wait until a rain, either just before or after it. Just before 

 might sometimes be risky, unless you are a good judge of the 

 weather. 



Now my field goes into winter in the best condition known 

 to-day for increasing fertility and catching the rainfall and making 

 it soak down to get more fertility. There will be no trash in the 

 hay the next year, either. Cutting clover, weeds, etc., when 

 tender, before they become woody, they shrink up and decay, and 

 then the heavy growth of clover helps rot them by shading and 

 keeping moist. The mice will not trouble, either. They will 

 often injure clover left standing, or lightly pastured. I have 

 known them to almost ruin a piece. They are plenty about here 

 in pastures and fence corners, but they have never done me any 

 harm where clover was thus treated. They will not venture into 

 so clean a field. The mowed stuff all sinks down close to ground. 

 There is nothing standing to hide them. I speak from long ex- 

 perience in this practice. Do just as I have stated and all will be 

 well. Mow once and late and close and the woody trash will not 

 rot and cutting clover so late it will not throw up enough growth 

 after to protect itself, and may freeze out much worse than 

 though not touched. 



Notice, no stock are ever pastured on my clover field. 

 I could not get such results from pasturing. I could not get the 

 uniform stand and great root growth. Many pasture young 

 clover in the fall. On my farm, for my crops, every dollar that I 



