THE CLOVERS 263 



whether or not certain insect enemies are present. The 

 largest yields of seed are usually obtained when the hay 

 crop is cut early. If plenty of rain to start the second 

 growth follows the cutting, and then if dry weather pre- 

 vails during the last period of growth, the production of 

 seed is favored. If wet weather prevails throughout the 

 growing season, the plants grow tall and rank, the heads 

 mature little seed, and the second crop is quite likely to 

 be more valuable for hay or pasture than for seed. Early 

 cutting of the first crop is favorable to a large production 

 of seed because in this case the seed of the second crop 

 forms early and may thus escape the attack of the second 

 brood of clover seed midge. When the first crop is har- 

 vested for seed, it is best to clip or pasture the field during 

 the fore part of the season in order to delay the blooming 

 period until the bumble-bees are more plentiful and in 

 order to avoid the attack of the first brood of the clover 

 seed midge. Clover should be cut for seed when the 

 heads have turned brown and the seeds are in the dough 

 stage. A mower, with an attachment to the cutter bar 

 for bunching, or a self-rake, may be used. After cutting, 

 the clover may be piled up into small cocks or allowed to 

 cure in the bunches for a week or ten days, after which it is 

 ready to thrash. The straw remaining after the seed has 

 been removed is of little value as feed. The yield varies 

 from a peck to as much as 5 bushels per acre, 2 bushels 

 being probably an average yield. The seed sells on the 

 market for from 5 to 10 dollars per bushel, which when 

 considered in connection with the value of the hay crop 

 secured the same season, makes the return per acre very 

 profitable. However, many farmers prefer to pasture the 

 second crop of clover and buy their supply of seed on the 

 market. 



