3IO CLOVERS 



seem wise to sow it for the purpose of providing 

 grazing, unless where the conditions for growing 

 other and better grazing are unfavorable. 



Some have spoken favorably of sweet clover for 

 soiling uses. It makes a very rapid growth quite 

 early in the season, and when cut and wilted more 

 or less before being fed, the palatability is thereby 

 considerably increased. Small plots of this plant 

 near the outbuildings may in this way be utilized 

 with some advantage in the absence of better soil- 

 ing plants. 



Harvesting for Hay. — Sweet clover is not a 

 really good hay plant under any conditions, and if 

 not cut until it becomes woody, is practically value- 

 less for hay. It ought to be cut for hay a little 

 before the stage of bloom. If cutting is longer de- 

 ferred, the plants become woody. Such early cut- 

 ting, however, adds much to the difficulty of curing 

 the crop, since, while naturally succulent, its suc- 

 culence is then, of course, considerably more than 

 at a later period. It should be cured like medium 

 red clover. (See page 96.) If not cut sufficiently 

 early, and cured with as much care as is exercised in 

 curing alfalfa, there will be considerable loss from 

 the shedding of the leaves. 



More commonly the plants are not cut for hay 

 the year that they are sown, but some seasons such 

 harvesting is entirely practicable in certain situa- 

 tions. The hay crop or crops are usually taken the 

 second year. Sometimes the crop is cut twice. It 

 is entirely practicable to obtain two cuttings under 

 ordinary conditions, because of the vigor in the 



