RED CLOVER. 135 



there would be reason for this expenditure. In point of 

 fact, however, no section of the Union will produce, acre 

 for acre, a larger quantity of clover seed. Three bushels 

 per acre have often been gathered, although the usual 

 average is about one and a half bushels. 



As the first crop of clover, coming to maturity in June, 

 will not perfect its seed, it is necessary to take off the first 

 crop, either by feeding or by mowing for hay, and rely for 

 the seed upon the after crop. The quantity of seed of this 

 crop will depend much upon the weather. Should there be 

 much rain or heavy winds, the yield of seed will be small, 

 but when the weather has been fine and calm and the seed 

 free from clock or other noxious seeds, the crop will be found as 

 remunerative as any other grown by the farmer. A bushel 

 of clover seed will weigh usually about 64 pounds, though 

 60 pounds is the standard bushel in market. 



The second crop of clover should be allowed to stand 

 until the husks have becone quite brown and the seeds have 

 passed the milky state. It should then be mowed and per- 

 mitted to lie upon the ground until it is well cured. After 

 it is cured rake it up into swaths. Rain will rather benefit 

 than injure it, making it easier to separate the heads from 

 the haulm, which is done by passing through an ordinary 

 wheat separator. A clover huller attachment-is adjusted to 

 the separator below the vibrator, which hulls the seeds, 

 and they are separated from the chaff by the fan, care being 

 taken to shut off- as much air as possible by closing the 

 sliding doors. 



The crop of seed can be largely increased by mowing or 

 feeding off the first crop of clover about the first of June, 

 and then top-dressing with stable manure. The earlier the 

 first crop is cut the larger will be the crop of seed. By 

 treating the clover fields in this way, as much as three 

 bushels of seed have been obtained from an acre. Uplands 

 will yield more seed than bottom lands, but they should be 

 enriched by a liberal application of manure. About the 



