12 FARMERS' BULLETIN 820. 



tings, yielding at least 1 ton to the cutting, may be obtained. The 

 first crop the second season yields on an average 1-J to 3 tons of hay 

 to the acre. In 1903 the Alabama Canebrake Station obtained 2-| 

 tons of hay after oat harvest and a total yield of 3 tons per acre from 

 the same field in 1904. 



TIME TO CUT SWEET CLOVER FOR HAY. 



The first season's growth of sweet clover does not usually get 

 coarse and woody and therefore may be cut when it shows its 

 maximum growth in the fall. In regions where more than one 

 crop may be obtained the first season, the first crop should be cut 

 when the plants have made about a 30-inch growth. 



The proper time to cut the first crop the second season will vary 

 considerably in different localities, depending very much upon the 

 rainfall, the temperature, and the fertility of the soil. In no event 

 should the plants be permitted to show flow r er buds or to become 

 woody. In the semiarid sections of the country sweet clover does 

 not grow as rapidly as in more humid regions. Neither do the 

 plants grow as rapidly on poor soils as upon fertile soils. In the 

 drier sections the best results usually are obtained by cutting the 

 first crop when the plants have made a growth of 24 to 30 inches. 

 On fertile, well-limed soils in many sections of the country a very 

 rapid growth is made in the spring, and often the plants will not 

 show flower buds until they are about 5 feet high. On such soils 

 it is very essential that the first crop be cut when the plants have 

 made no more growth than 30 to 32 inches if hay is desired which is 

 not stemmy and if a second growth is to be expected. 



HEIGHT OF STUBBLE TO BE LEFT WHEN CUTTING FOR HAY. 



It is not necessary to leave more than an ordinary stubble when 

 cutting the sweet-clover hay crop in the fall of the year of seeding. 

 A stubble 4 or 5 inches in height, however, will serve to hold drift- 

 ing snow and undoubtedly will be of some help in protecting the 

 plants from winter injury. While sweet clover without question is 

 more hardy than red clover, usually more or less winterkilling 

 occurs, and any protection which may be afforded during cold 

 weather will be of considerable benefit. 



While the first crop in the second year comes from the crown buds, 

 the new branches which produce the second crop of the second year 

 come from the buds formed in the axils of the leaves on the lower 

 portions of the stalks which constitute the first crop, as shown in 

 figure 4. These branches usually commence growth when the plants 

 are about 24 inches high. In fields where the stand is heavy and 

 where the lower portions of tjie plants are densely shaded, these 



