ILLINOIS DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 31 



dairy, a milk dairy, or a dairy for raising? steers, and then select your male 

 from the line you wish to work in. I believe it is as necessary to success to 

 have some plan to work to in farming as it is with the carpenter or the ma- 

 chinist. 



I would say to all dairymen who have not already done so, commence 

 testing your cows as soon as you get home. If you are selling milk, know 

 how much each cow is producing. If you are selliug cream by the gauge or 

 inch, know how much milk each cow gives and what percentage of cream 

 each cow's milk produces. If you are making butter, know how much but- 

 ter each cow will produce per week. I will warrant you will be surprised at 

 the result of your tests, and I know you will be interested, instructed and 

 financially benefitted. 



DISCUSSION. 



C. C. Buel: I wish that Mr, Gurler would give me an idea of what he 

 calls early cut hay and late cut hay. 



Mr. Gurler : I call it early cut hay, when it is cut a little before it comes 

 in full blossom. I know that it requires more curing, and if it was exclusive- 

 ly timothy, I would not cut quite so soon, but in our section it is generally 

 more clover than timothy. Clover will make more milk and the yield per acre, 

 per year of clover will exceed the timothy because you have two crops. 



Q. How much will it exceed the timothy ? 



A. Fifty per cent. I have repeatedly cut five tons of hay to the acre, the 

 two crops. 



Q- How much timothy did you ever cut? 



A. About 3 1-4. One crop is about the best I ever got. 



Q. Wont you get twice as much clover as timothy v 



A. No, fifty per cent, is not twice as much; I think I put it high enough. 



Q. Is the common yield of timothy hay more than two tons per acre? 



Q. Probably not, but clover on the same ground would not produce five 

 tons, the second crop would be tolerably light. 



Q. Wouldn't it produce four tons of clover on the same ground that 

 would produce two tons of timothy and then leave your ground in much bet- 

 ter condition for another crop? 



A. Yes, clover will leave the ground in much better condition for rota- 

 ting crops, but I would rather estimate it at three to two, that I am sure is 

 not over-estimating it. 



Q. Isn't it difficult to cure so green ? 



A. I have no trouble curing with a hay tedder. I have a crop of clover 

 that would yield fully three tons to the acre, I cut it in the morning, start the 

 hay tedder soon after and I have it cured so I can commence to draw the 

 next forenoon. 



Q. Just what stage of curing are you referring to ? 



A . I estimate the capacity of my barn, after the^hay is settled in the binn 

 I know what my barn figures up to hold of hay. 



Q. 1 1 is only once in a while we have settled weather, what may be called 

 good hay weather, until about the 4th of July, or at least the 1st of July, now, 

 you must be cutting your hay about the 20th, or the 25th of June ? 



