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SAVING CLOVER SEED. 



It has often been a matter of surprise that Tennessee 

 farmers have not more generally saved their clover seed. 

 The amount of money yearly paid out for an article which 

 is now considered a prime necessity to good farming, is er- 

 roneous. Were the lands of Tennessee incapable of pro- 

 ducing clover seed, there would be reason for this expendi- 

 ture. 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 £i 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 dock 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 

 sixty-four pounds, though sixty pounds is the standard 

 bushel in market. 



The second crop of clover should be allowed to stand 

 until the husks have become 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 huUer 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 slid- 

 ing doors. 



