CROPS FOR SOILING AND FODDER CLOVER AND GRASS. 93 



A. The mower will leave it level over the ground, and thus afford 

 a useful protection for the roots. Besides, the cutting of the grass 

 leaves the surface smooth and clear for the first spring cutting. 

 Otherwise the dead grass, if uncut, would be in the way of the 

 mower. 



Q. As this matter is a very important one, I should further ask you 

 to give as near the date as possible at which you cut and the height 

 you cut, supposing the clover and grass to be one foot high ? 



A. I cut from the 1st to the 10th of October, and raise the machine 

 fully four inches high, leaving, as I have before said, the crop on the 

 ground as a mulch. The young shoots of the orchard grass and clover 

 strike through it very early in the spring so early that I had to begin 

 cutting my general crop this year on the 9th of June, for hay. I 

 could only use it for a soiling crop for about one week, as lucern 

 lasted up until the time the clover was in blossom. 



Q. What is the advantage of mixing the orchard grass in the clover 

 for soiling ? 



A. The reason is that the orchard grass has the habit of growing 

 in bunches, and the clover fills the vacant spaces and adds very much 

 to the yield. Another reason, the orchard grass prevents the clover 

 from falling down. A third reason, I know that cattle are fond of 

 mixed foods. A still further reason, and the most important of all, 

 is, that orchard grass and clover come into blossom at the best time 

 for cutting. 



PEAS AND OATS. 



Another crop that I have used with great satisfaction for soiling is 

 peas and oats, mixed. This is what some farmers call a " stolen " 

 crop, because it is so quick in its growth and matures so early 

 that it is slipped in between crops and is off in seven or eight weeks; 

 and, besides, it cleans the land and prepares it for a crop of turnips 

 or fodder corn. I plow, harrow and sow the peas about the end of 

 March, and not later than the 15th of April, putting on three bushels 

 of oats and two bushels of peas to the acre, sowing broadcast on the 

 rough ground after plowing. The reason for sowing on the rough 

 ground before harrowing is that it gets the seeds deeper, which is a 

 necessity, particularly with the peas. I would mention here that it 

 is difficult to harrow in peas, and would suggest the use of the Acme 

 harrow to cover in this crop. After harrowing the ground is rolled 

 in the usual manner, which answers the double purpose of firming 

 it and smoothing it for harvesting. About the middle of June the 

 crop is fit for feeding, and will last up to the 1st of July, when what 

 is left is cut and dried in the same manner as hay, and put in the 



