1920.] Growing Late Flowering Red Clover for Seed. 505 



definitely ascertained, while the buyer is exposed to risk 

 (owing to confusion of names) if he buys seed elsewhere. 



The seed should be drilled into the cereal crop at the usual 

 time in spring at the rate of 8 lb. per acre. It should be 

 rolled in, and if the soil is dry at the time of sowing heavy 

 rolling is advisable. 



Subsequent Treatment . — After the harvest of the cereal nurse 

 crop the clover should be rolled. The crop is not usually fed 

 the same autumn, though calves are sometimes put on in* 

 Hampshire and sheep in the Tsle of Wight (where growth ia 

 stronger) . The clover may be slagged or dunged in winter, 

 but usually is not directly manured. If it is intended to take 

 seed it is not advisable to graze or mow for hay in the early 

 part of the season. As a rule only one seed crop is taken from 

 a ley. If cut for hay the first year a seed crop may come 

 the second season. 



Harvesting. — The crop is usually harvested in August or 

 September, but it can stand later than Broad Red Clover, and 

 may even be carried up to November, under exceptionally 

 favourable weather conditions. 



Readiness for harvest is indicated by the depth of brown 

 colour of the field as a whole, and ripeness of seed is usually 

 judged by picking heads and rubbing them out in the hand. 

 The crop is cut with an ordinary mower, or with a side 

 delivery reaper which leaves rows of little heaps instead of 

 swathes; the self-binder has been successfully used. 



It usually lies for about two days in good weather, and is 

 then turned with the fork, the heads being kept up as much 

 as possible. Xo wind rows are made — the small pikes ore 

 pitched direct. Stacks are made rectangular, rather long and 

 narrow to prevent heating. If the crop is well dried, chimneys 

 are not necessary. 



Threshing. — Usually, threshing takes place the following 

 spring; growers recommend that stacks of Late Flowering 

 Red be left for threshing till after the other clovers have been 

 dealt with. The operation is carried out with a " combined " 

 threshing machine. 



Crop. — The average crop is about 260 lb. per acre. A 

 maximum of three times this yield may be obtained under 

 specially favourable circumstances. 



Disposal of Straw. — If fodder is scarce the stalks may be 

 used as chaff in a mixed food for cattle, but this cannot be 

 regarded as a high-class fodder. In other cases the stalks are 

 used as litter. 



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