236 



mation of so much importance that we 

 publish it in this connection. The Syra- 

 cuse machine referred to, is the Endless 

 Cham or Railroad Horse Power and Thresh- 

 er, manufactured by Emery & Co., and 

 Wheeler, Melick & Co., in Albany, N. Y. 

 In order to make the subject of cleaning 

 with the Thresher, as referred to, a little 

 more clear, we will state that the teeth in 

 the Thresher are placed spirally around 

 the cylinder, the front of the cylinder being 

 cased up with iron or wood. The seed is 

 filled in rather compact at one end, and 

 by the spiral action of the teeth it is hulled 

 as it is forced forward and discharged at 

 the other end of the cylinder. The meth- 

 od of hulling will answer where a farmer 

 has the Thresher on hand, but a regular 

 Huller which hulls and cleans the se^d at 

 one operation, is to be preferred. These 

 are run by any of- the ordinary horsj|pow- 

 ers, the same as a common wheat thresher 

 is run. 



Bucyrus, Ohio. 



Dear Sir, — Yours of the 4th inst. was 

 received last evening. It is with pleasure 

 that I furnish you with all the information 

 within my reach, on the subject mentioned 

 in your letter, to wit : the Raising of Clo- 

 ver and Clover Seed. 



I have consulted a Mr. Ludwig, who is 

 a farmer of much practical experience and 

 observation. I have also consulted some 

 other farmers whom I knew had raised 

 considerable clover seed, and I find their 

 statements all substantially agree. I there- 

 fore give you the information as derived 

 from Mr. Ludwig, believing his to be as 

 reliable as any to be obtained on the sub- 

 ject. I drew up a series of questions 

 which I supposed would, when answered, 

 embrace the information you desired, and 

 obtained his answers thereto in the follow- 

 ing order : 



1st. What is the best soil for the culti- 

 vation of clover? 



Ans. — Clay soil, decidedly, for clover 

 or wheat. Lime should be an ingredient 

 of the soil. 



2d. The best method of preparing the 

 ground ? 



Ans. — I have found it best to prepare 

 the ground well for wheat, and if it has 

 not been done in the last three years, the 

 subsoil plow, or Michigan Double Plow 

 should be used. Sow the wheat in the 



fall, and on the same sow clover in the 

 spring. 



3d. The best time to sow clover? 



Ans. — Generally about the first of April, 

 if pure seed is used — if in chaff, earlier. 



4th. The quantity of seed to acre? 



Ans. — About eight quarts of pure seed 

 to the acre. You can scarcely use too 

 much. 



5th. The best time to cut clover for 



seed ? 



Ans. When the largest quantity of seed 

 is ripe. When more is falling off from 

 over ripeness than is getting ripe, it is high 

 time to cut. 



6th. In wfiat manner should the grass 

 be treated when cut for seed ? 



Ans.— Get it dry as fast as possible, and 

 with the least handling. Get it into barn 

 (not stack, it will not turn rain). It was 

 formerly the plan to let it lay to bleech. 

 That is wrong; it should not get wet if it 

 can be avoided. It causes a great loss of 

 seed. 



7th. What is the best method of getting 

 out the seed ? 



Ans. — I have used and seen used a num- 

 ber of Clover Hullers, but have found a 

 good Syracuse threshing machine (for 

 wheat) to answer the best, by adding 

 thereto a concave of sheet iron, to be placed 

 on the outside of the cylinder; the clover 

 heads let in at one end and passing out at 

 the other. Mr. Ludwig constiucted this 

 improvement for his own use, and also a 

 revolving screen, through which it was first 

 run and under which was a fan, — these 

 separated the stems, leaves and light or 

 seedless heads from the valuable portion, 

 which being by this process much reduced 

 in quantity and bulk, was then run through 

 the threshing machine or huller, arranged 

 as before* mentioned. He however says, 

 that it would be difficult to so describe the 

 arrangement as to enable anyone at a dis- 

 tance to arrange it. He informs me that 

 by his plan he could, with three hands and 

 two horses, clean forty bushels of seed per 

 day. Twelve to fifteen bushels is a good 

 business with a clover huller. 



8th. What clover machine or huller is 

 esteemed the best? 



Ans. — Those invented and made by M. 

 H. Mansfield, of Ashland, Ohio. 



9th. What quantity is usually raised per 

 acre in Crawford county, Ohio? 



Ans. — It is a very uncertain crop. From 



