1864. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



CLOVER HAY FOB, HORSES. 

 ■ We have long urged upon the farmers of New 

 England the importance of raising more clover 

 hay, not only for miich cows and sheep, but for 

 tiorses also. We have spoken of its nutritive 

 properties compared with other hay, and of the 

 fondness which cattle and sheep and horses al- 

 ways evince for it, and have urged that its high- 

 ly nutritive qualities and this decided preference 

 ought to be sufficient reasons to induce farmers 

 to cultivate it more extensively. 



It is at present unfashionable to use clover for 

 horses in city stables, and it is, therefore, unmar- 

 ketable. But there is a reason for this, in the 

 quality of the clover hay which has too often been 

 presented in the market for sale. It is either 

 greatly damaged or spoiled in curing it. No oth- 

 er hay is injured so rapidly, or so essentially, 

 by neglect and exposure while making it, as clo- 

 ver. It has broad leaves and bulky, juicy stems, 

 so that the plant is succulent and heavy, and 

 when cut soon becomes quite compact. While in 

 this condition it will quickly heat and induce the 

 fermentative process, when its nutritive qualities 

 are rapidly changed and lost as food for animals. 

 At this period it is thrown open, perhaps, and 

 dried, but its fresh, green look has gone, its sweet- 

 ness departed, most of the leaves have fallen off, 

 and it is little but a mass of blackened, dusty 

 fibre, and just such as should be rejected by both 

 man and beast. No wonder that stable-keepers 

 refuse to purchase such stuff as fodder for their 

 horses. 



If a few tons of well-cured clover hay were 

 brought into market and two or three leading sta- 

 ble-keepers should use it, we have no doubt but 

 the demand would be quick for it afterward. It 

 Is not, however, we must confess, so well adapted 

 for transportation as timothy and red top, because 

 its leaves are so liable to be broken off in car- 

 riage. Our remarks are suggested, mainly, to 

 the farmer who desires to feed his stock upon the 

 most profitable varieties of hay in his own barn, 

 — and this we consider to be well cured clover 

 hay. 



Some object to it that it runs out too quickly — 

 that they can get only a single crop from a sow- 

 ing, and that this is too expensive. This is cer- 

 tainly apt to be the case if the crop that succeeds 

 the first cutting, what is called the aftermath, or 

 second crop, is allowed to go to seed. Those 

 plants that go to seed, having performed their 

 office, that of perpetuation, will not start up 

 again, while those that do not go to seed will con- 

 tinue to flourish two or three years, and produce 

 heavy crops. 



In this course, the cost of plowing and reseed- 

 ing is largely more than paid for in the exuberant 



crops, and in the decided value of the clover roots 

 which are left in the soil. It is thought that a 

 somewhat thin and poor soil may be permanently 

 fertilized by tlm course, with only trifling aid from 

 barn manures to start with. If such is the fact, 

 it affords another substantial reason why our farm- 

 ers should considerably extend their fields of 

 clover. 



We hope our correspondents will give their 

 views upon this subject, especially now, when so 

 many persons have engaged in sheep husbandry. 

 The subject is worthy of close attention by all 

 cultivators of grasses. An article on another page, 

 on this subject, will well repay perusal. 



EXTRACTS AND REPLIES. 

 On Pulling Stumps. 



I have a lot of stumps in a swamp, to remove, and 

 wish to get them out of the way with as little expense 

 as possible. Will some of your correspondents, who 

 may have worked pulling at stumps, or'are acquainted 

 with the business in anyway, please give, through the 

 columns of the Farmer, a description of the manner 

 in which it is done, and what kind of machines or 

 other power they use ? 



Any information in regard to the above will be re- 

 ceived with pleasure by A Subscriber. 



In the Fanner of April 16, "A Subscriber" says be 

 has a lot of stumps in a swamp, and wants some one 

 acquainted with the business to tell him how to get 

 them out. I have that experience, and have quite a, 

 story to tell in the Farmer some day, but have not 

 time to shape it now. But I can safely say to "A Sub- 

 scriber," that it will be money in his pocket, (if he 

 does not live at too great a distance,) to take the Old 

 Colony cars, which stop near my door, and see me and 

 my swamp. He can see stumps enough pulled, and 

 what pulls them, and get a large experience veiy 

 quick, free gratis. Caleb Bates. 



Kingston, Mass., April 19, 1864. 



Remarks. — We know Mr. Bates very well, and 

 have seen the stump-puller to which he refers, in ope- 

 ration. He has given "A Subscriber" an invitation 

 which we hope he will accept, as seeing for himself 

 will be more satisfactory than any suggestions can be. 

 Mr. Bates is one of our practical, progressive farmers, 

 who always looks into the causes of things, as far as 

 his opportunities will allow him to. 



Sicilian Fowls. 



In your last letter you wished me to give you a des- 

 cription of the Sicilian Fowls that I have. 



In May, 1861, 1 received the eggs of the above-named 

 fowls, from Mr. Wilson, of Cohasset, Mass., who im- 

 ported them in the fall of 1860. You wish me to give 

 you a statement of the product of these fowls, but 

 this I am not able to state, as I have not kept my ac- 

 count of the amount of eggs laid from five or ten hens, 

 as I have kept them with my other varieties of fowls 

 until I select them in the spring, for breeding. 



I have the White and Speckled Leghorn fowls, which 

 are considered by good judges to be the best, or as 

 good as there are in the country ; but I have tested 

 the same number of the Sicilian fowls with the Leg- 

 horn, for three months, and the Sicilian fowls laid ten 

 dozen eggs to the Leghorn 8 dozen. 



The Sicilian fowl is a very beautiful bird, about the 

 size of the black Spanish fowl, and their color quite 

 near that of a woodcock or snipe ; comb and wattles 

 verv large, and a large white spot about the ear, simi- 

 lar to that of the white Leghorn fowls. 



I think these fowls deserve the highest attention 

 among our poultry breeders,. The flesh of the Sicili- 

 an fowls is very juicy and of excellent flavor and is 

 much admired by those who have used them for the 



