262 



FIELD CROP PRODUCTION 



reduced to 18 or 20 per cent. The curing of the hay is 

 greatly facihtated by the use of the tedder, which may be 

 used the next morning after cutting as soon as the dew is 

 off. The time required for the clover to cure will depend 

 upon its maturity, upon the dryness of the ground under 

 it, and upon the sun and air. Under favorable conditions 

 it may be dried out sufficiently for storing in 20 to 24 

 hours after cutting. If only a small acreage is grown, or 



if plenty of labor is at 

 hand, the leaves may 

 be better saved and a 

 slightly better quality 

 of hay may be secured 

 if the hay is piled into 

 small cocks, when in 

 a semi-cured condi- 

 tion, for a few days 

 before storing. 



263. Cutting for 

 seed. — Red clover is 

 grown primarily for 

 the seed in but few lo- 

 calities. The seed is 

 usually harvested from the second crop, that is, from the 

 plants which spring up after the hay crop has been re- 

 moved. This practice makes possible the harvesting of 

 two crops, one for hay and one for seed, during the same 

 season. Small amounts of seed are produced on many 

 farms in the clover growing sections of the country, but 

 the greater part of it is produced in Ohio, Michigan, 

 Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri. 

 The yield of seed per acre varies greatly from year to 

 year, depending much upon weather conditions and upon 



Fig. 92. 



- Using the tedder on a heavy 

 hay crop. 



