SEEDING TO FODDER AND PASTURE PLANTS. 25 



will consequently be greater. When cutting is delayed until seeds 

 have started to develop, the natural tendency of Red Clover and 

 other biennial fodder plants is to die down ; with Timothy and other 

 grasses the effect is apparent not only in the aftermath but also in 

 the crop of the succeeding year. In wild nature the next year's 

 crop would consist in part of young plants from seed which, under 

 agricultural conditions, is frequently allowed to form but not to mature 

 and drop. 



From the standpoint of the quality of the hay, nothing is gained 

 and much may be lost by deferring cutting until the bloom is well 

 advanced. The yield per acre is slightly increased during the few 

 days between early and late flowering, but that small increase is 

 obtained at the expense of a marked depreciation in quality; and if 

 the aftermath or succeeding crops are taken into account, the total 

 yield is actually reduced. 



When fodder crops that reach the early flowering stage at 

 different times are sown together, as Early Red Clover and Timothy, 

 the best time for the first cutting depends on the proportion of each. 

 It will usually be found advisable, and in the end most economical, 

 to cut when the early maturing clover is not more than two or three 

 days past its best condition for hay-making. In dry, hot weather 

 fodder crops ripen quickly, and a few days' delay may then do as 

 much damage as a much longer period would in cool weather with 

 a moist soil. 



For hay, cutting is best done by machine mowers. The harvest- 

 ing of grass seed is commonly done with self-binders, the sheaves 

 being stood together in small shocks to cure and ripen the seed. 



Close cutting for hay is recommended. When the fodder crop 

 consists largely of clovers and is heavy and lodged in patches, the 

 cutter bar should be so adjusted as to get below the stalks, else the 

 remaining stubble will be dangerous to the machinery in tedding 

 and raking and will leave a worthless roughage to be collected with 

 the next hay crop. The advantage of a smooth surface, produced 

 by the use of the weeder following the grain drill and by spring 

 rolling across the furrows, is best appreciated when a heavy and 

 badly lodged crop of clover is to be cut. 



It is usually convenient to cut during that part of the day when 

 the dew prevents the work of making and hauling. When, however, 

 the clover crop is heavy and liable to collect on the divider when wet 

 with dew, late afternoon cutting is desirable. Tedding or turning 

 the green fodder should commence soon after it is cut. If the crop 



