ALSIKE CLOVER 213 



close grazing, from the time that grazing begins, is 

 preferable to grazing that leaves the crop uneven. 

 When certain portions of the field are left ungrazed, 

 or only partially grazed, the mower should be run 

 over such portions about the time that the grazing 

 ceases. If this is done a few clays before the removal 

 of the stock, they will eat much of the clover thus 

 mown. Unless the mower is thus used, under such 

 conditions the seed will ripen unevenly in the 

 grazed and ungrazed portions of the same. 



The duration of the grazing is much dependent 

 on the soil and the season. The more moist and 

 rich the soil and the more moist the season, the 

 more prolonged should the grazing be. In Northern 

 areas it seldom begins earlier than May ist, and 

 seldom extends beyond June ist. If prolonged un- 

 duly and dry weather follows, the growth of the 

 plants will not be enough to produce average crops 

 of seed. Quite frequently on upland soils, the graz- 

 ing should cease before the end of May. 



Either cattle or sheep, or both, may be used in the 

 grazing. Cattle do not graze quite so closely as 

 sheep, which is so far favorable to subsequent 

 growth. But sheep will glean weeds to a much 

 greater extent than cattle. When the field is made 

 to carry so much stock that the grazing is quickly 

 and thoroughly done, the results are usually more 

 satisfactory than when the opposite method is prac- 

 ticed. 



It is important that weeds shall be prevented from 

 maturing seeds in the clover. To prevent this, it 

 may be necessary to run the mower over the whole 



