132 THE GRASSES OF TENNESSEE. 



giving constituents in it as possible, or to preserve it as 

 . near as practicable in the same condition in which it is cut, 

 with the water only abstracted. 



The plan generally adopted is to mow the clover in the 

 morning and let it lie in the sun several hours until a wisp 

 taken up and twisted will show no exudation of moisture. 

 It is then thrown up into small cocks, say four feet in 

 diameter and four feet high. In these, unless there is ap- 

 pearance of rain, it is allowed to remain for a day or two, 

 when it may be hauled to the barn and stored away with- 

 out danger of damage. Care should be taken not to let the 

 dew fall upon it as it lies scattered by the mower. The 

 dew of one single night will blacken the leaves and destroy 

 the aroma for which good clover hay is so much prized. 



Another plan practiced is to mow it and let it lie just 

 long enough in the sun to wilt, and then wagon it to an open 

 house and lay it upon beams or tier-poles, where it can 

 receive the free action of the air. After a few days it may 

 be packed down without any danger of fermenting. Cured 

 in this way, in the shade, it retains its green color, is fra- 

 grant, and makes a most excellent feed. The only objection 

 to this plan is the great amount of room under cover re- 

 quired for curing, and the additional burthen of hauling 

 while green. 



Another plan is to haul it up as soon as it wilts, using 

 about half a bushel of salt to the cured ton of hay. A layer 

 a foot or more in thickness may be laid down, over which 

 salt is scattered pretty freely, then another layer and salt, 

 continuing to repeat the operation until the space set apart 

 for hay is filled. A rapid fermentation will ensue, and the 

 hay will be cured by the heat of this fermentation, the salt 

 acting as a preventive against putrefaction. Instead of 

 salt, layers of wheat straw can be substituted. By using 

 straw the clover may be put up in the field. The quantity 

 of straw to be used in the rick or stack depends upon the 

 moisture in the clover the greener the clover the thicker 



