CUTTING CLOVER AND ALFALFA 3Q9 



When the lesson is ready to begin, place the box be- 

 fore the class, put all the insects in with the toads, and 

 watch them eat. Such an interesting sight the pupils 

 seldom see. The insects disappear as if by magic, 

 snapped in by the toad's long tongue with lightning 

 rapidity. Have some pupil count how many insects the 

 toad eats during the recitation time. 



Place one toad in the glass tumbler, cover with a 

 mosquito netting and pass it around among the pupils, 

 so that all can see the beautiful eyes "the fabled jewel" 

 in the toad's head. 



LESSON LXXXVII 



CUTTING CLOVER AND ALFALFA 



It is during the second year of our red clover field, 

 and the third or fourth year of the alfalfa stand, and 

 we must begin to harvest these crops this month. 



Values of clover. Next to alfalfa, red clover is one 

 of the most valuable forage crops for stock feeding. Al- 

 most every farm animal is benefited by the feeding of 

 red clover. Its merits in this respect are not fully ap- 

 preciated as a farm crop. It is valuable as hay, as a 

 soiling crop, and as a green manure crop ; its roots ren- 

 der the soil open and porous, and richer in nitrogen. 



Making clover hay. Clover should be cut when free 

 from moisture, and when about one-third of the blos- 

 soms have begun to turn brown. At this time the clover 

 will make the most nutritious hay. The clover is cut 

 and allowed to lie in the swath until almost dry, when 



