136 How THE FARM PAYS. 



as a mulch, as well as for its fertilizing properties, at that time of the 

 year? 



A. That is exactly the reason. Although the first heavy rains 

 carry down the greater part of the fertilizing properties of the 

 manure, the substance of it is left to act as a mulch until the after- 

 math grows sufficiently to protect itself. 



CLOVER HAY. 



Q. What is understood by the term " Clover Hay " ? 



A. When a piece of land is sown to wheat and grass in the fall, 

 clover seed is sown the following spring, as soon as the frost is out 

 of the ground, and the soil is sufficiently dry. The ground is then 

 brush harrowed and rolled in the usual manner. The wheat is cut 

 off in July. About September the young Clover is either fed off with 

 sheep or young cattle heavy animals, such as cows or horses, should 

 never be permitted to go upon the field or, if not fed off, it should 

 be run over with the mowing machine, and cut three or four inches 

 from the ground, and the cutting left on as a mulch. By June of 

 the next year the clover is ready to cut for the first time. This 

 cutting is made when the crop is in full blossom, and before a single 

 head has turned brown. It is advisable then to give the clover a top 

 dressing of manure or plaster, to hasten the growth of a second crop, 

 which is cut in August. If the ground is rich two hay crops are thus 

 taken. 



Q. Is it any more trouble to cure clover hay than the ordinary 

 grass hay ? 



A. Yes; clover having so much water in it, takes more time and 

 care to cure it than hay. Clover should be cut when the weather is 

 dry and the dew is off, and should be immediately put into cocks and 

 cured in these cocks so as to preserve all the leaves, for if left in the 

 usual way in the sun until it becomes dry, the leaves would get brittle, 

 and in tedding or raking with the horse-rake would fall off. My 

 plan of curing clover is to cut it when the dew is off, and about two 

 hours afterwards rake it up into small cocks and leave it until the 

 next day, when the cocks are turned with the fork and made over 

 again, but larger. Here the clover sweats and heats or ferments 

 and gets rid of a good deal of its moisture, and dries soft and tender, 

 instead of brittle. The second day it is ready to be put in the mow 

 or stack. 



Q. Is there not more danger from wet weather in saving clover 

 than in making grass hay ? 



