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Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul cliche, il est film6 A partir de Tangle sup^rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n6cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m^thode. 32X 1 2 3 4 5 6 CL©¥m, FDIELfe KOOT< "V.w, //^/i' AiPty fmm. FUMTi WRITTEN BY 'I Of the University of IMinnesota. MINRIAFOLIB. mNN, MOrnTT, TRURaTON * PLANK PTQ. CO. 1895. . h ,a5 I'', ■'■^" KiiliTi'il iii'ri)i ,*^' "b ^ ^ PUBLISHERS' PREFACE. Every season we are In receipt of a great many letters asking In- formation on the subjects which are discussed in this book. In our desire to answer these questions correctly and in a manner that would be Ukeful to our correspondents, It became apparent to us, as it has no doubt been clear to nearly everyone who operates a farm, that there was no book In existence that handled these Important subjects In a really clear and practical manner. We determined to have such a book. The next question with us was, wliom should we get to write It. There are some writers who know a ^ood deal, but cannot tell It. There are others who write a good deal but do no». know It. What we were after was a man who knew and could teil It In a way that would be readily i:nderstood by everyone who could read. We finally fixed on such a man. Professor Thomas Shaw, a thorough student, a practical farmer, and one who possesses In a rare degree the gift of imparting information In such a manner as to interest and Instruct every one who reads. We said to Professor Shaw, *' W» want a book that will enable the farmer who consults It to decide: First— What Is best for his land and purpose. Second— How to prepare his ground. Third— How to sow the seed. Fourth— How to take care of the crop. Fifth-How to harvest It. SIxth-Howtofeedit." We will leave It to the reader to Judge as to how well Professor Shaw and ourselves have succeeded In the work as it stands. This book should prove interesting and instructive to farmers everywhere, but It will be found of especial value throughout the Northwest. We have faith In the future of the Northwest. We believe that out of the conditions that have prevailed during the last few years. It will arise stronger than ever before. The low price of wheat will compel attention to other crops. Great changes have TTT alrcaJv tak«n place. In our experience In the seed business In Minn*- sota. covet Inn a period ol something over ten years, we can see already a Kreat advancement. Ten years aRO It was not thought possible to ralsa any good variety of corn In Minnesota, outside of the southern tier ot counties. The variety In common use In the Immediate vicinity of Minneartolls was a small-eared, shallow corn called the " Michigan Row Dent." which was In fact nearly a flint. At the present time this variety has been altogether discarded, having given place to such well- known sorts as the Minnesota King. Pride of the North, Dal.llmate. In less than five years' lime, the state of Minnesota will be growing as good corn, as large corn, and as many bushels to the acre as are now pro- duced In the states of Iowa. Illinois and Nebraska. A tew years ago, the only variety of corn that was known, or that was thought possible to be produced In North Dakota was the Squaw Corn. In Its place we now h.ive varieties Ilk:: the Minnesota King, Mercer. Pride of Dakota, etc.. which not only give a large yield of ears but an abundance of fodder. We take considerable satisfaction In the thought that we have been Instrumental In acclimating and introducing most ot these varie- ties into the Northwest. Not many years ago It was thought Impos- sible that timothy and clover could thrive in Minnesota. Today Minnesota grown seed of these varieties commands the highest price amongst seed buyers, all over the United States. It Is such facts as these that lead us to look confidently to more rapid developments even« owing to the pressure necessity exerts. We should be pleased to hear from all those who read this book, as to how well It meets their views and needs. Very truly. NORTHHUP, BRASLAN, GOODWIN CO. Minneapolis, Minn., January I, 1895. • tnMlnn«- ■Nalready possible to lie southern late vicinity "Michigan tnttlme this such well' ilkota Dent. hesc will be Uht Irom the ate. In less 'lnf( as KO'»< 8 Grasses, Clovers, Field Roots, Forage ami Fodder Plants, a more humid climate, It should be remembered that many kinds of grass can be introduced with great advantage in addition to those now grown. Th.se varieties will be mentioned in a subsequent chapter. In the meantime every farmer should be testing thtm for himself to ascertain which kinds will best suit his soil and climate. He should introduce them at first wlt»- a prudent caution until he has satisfied himself that they have staying <,jailties. This once assured, they may be grown to any extent desired. The term forage crops Includes such crops as are grown for pas- ture or for summer feeding In addition to the grasses proper, as for in- stance rye eaten off fail a«d spring, rape eaten off when desired, and mixed grains grown and cut and fed while yet green. There Is a pe- culiar propriety in ga-wing these crops In the Northwest owing to the dr^'nessof the climate and to the lack of succulen..e In the grasses In consequence at certain seasons of the year. In the judgmmt of the writer the successful growing of forage crops to supplement the pas- tures when these are dry is the most Important consideration that can engage the attention of the producer of live stock. Every one thus en- gaged is deeply Interested in thiS|::oblem and should at once set to work In solving It for himself and more or less on the lines laid down in Chapter IV of this book. To secure a vigoroujs germination at certain seasons of the year Is the one real difficulty to be overcome In the growing of these forage crops. But many of them may be planted or sown while there Is yet sufficient moisture in the ground to attain this end. The amount of food which may thus be grown per acre where a due regard Is had to adaptation Is In many Instances very great. And the forage crops men- tioned in the chapter referred to, have nutrJtIve and succulent proper- ties admirably adapted to the needs of various classes of live stock. Fodder crops are those crops which are grown for winter foods, exclusive of the grain taken out of the ear, and field roots, as mangels, turnips and potatoes. They include such crops as corn, millet and cereals cut at a stage which precludes the necessity for threshing them. These crops will be still more in demand In the Northwest as the land becomes occupied, aod the areas for producing wild hay decrease in consequence. They usually produce more food per acre than hay, and In some seasons they can be grown so as to supplement a light grass crop. {er Plantf. : many kinds of on to those now leqnent chapter, n for himself to ate. He shouid he has satisfied e assured, they 5 grown for pas- roper, as for in- len desired, and There is a pe- st owing to the I the grasses in udgmmt of the lement the pas- sration that can ery one thus en- once set to worl< !S laid down in is of the year is of these forage hiie there is yet The amount of regard Is had to orage crops men- ucculent proper- of live stock, for winter foods, tots, as mangels, corn, millet and threshing them, vest as the land hay decrease in re than hay, and nt a light grass I JUlative Importance of Gras.w an.i Root Cro/>s. 9 Field rooU Include such crops as mangels, turnips and carrots. One variety or anotlier of these can be grown in every section of the Northwest, and Indeed in all the Northern and MiJdIe States and in the Dominion of Canada from sea to sea. On suitable soils and when properly grown they produce an enormous amount of food per acre. And when fed as a part ot the ration, more especially In the winter sea- son, no other food adjunct is equal to them for keeping live stock in a healthy condition, or promoting their rapid development. ^..m-m^ 10 Grassfs, Cloven:, Field Roots, Foraj^e ami Fodder PUxnts. CHAPIER 11. Cultivated ghasses and clovers %, Grasses, Tn this chapter only those varieties are discussed In detail which have been found suitable to the conditions of the Northwest, or in ref- erence to which there Is a strong likelihood that they will be found suitable to those conditions. It is more than probable that other vari- eties may yet be found adapted to this country, but the discussion of these at present would be foreign to the aim of this book. Notwithstanding the Important part that cultivated grasses anu clovers will yet play in the agriculture of the Northwest, they should be discussed In the meantime with a prudent caution. But little is known positively regarding the adaptability of some of the different varieties, as several of them have not been sufficiently tested as yet; and where tests have been made In many instances the conditions were such that the conclusions reached have either possessed but little value or have been positively misleading. In a country so large, one variety for Instance, may fail in one locality and prove a success In another where the conditions of soil and climate are different, and the opposite of this may also prove true. And in situationsfar apart where the soil conditions are exactly the same, very dissimilar results may be obtained In growing the same plants owing to a difference in climate. Timothy.— Timothy {PhUum pratenst) is so well known that it Is not necessary to describe it. At present it stands crowned king of all the grasses. It is probably adapted to a wider range of conditions than any other variety of grass. No other variety is perhaps equal to it In average yields, nor does any other variety excel it in ail round feeding value. It Is best suited to rich, damp loam soils abounding in vegetable matter. On these soils the best crops can be grown when they lie upon a subsoil of average density. Clay loams are preferable '«^.... T fr Plants. Cultivated Grasses and Chvers. II in detail which iwest, or in ref- ' will be found that other vari- e discussion of k. ;d grasses anu st, they should But little is if the different tested as yet; the conditions essed but little ■ so large, one ; a success in erent, and the ar apart where results may be ce In climate. leen sown, and there is probably no grass in the northern part of the continent which can hold its own against blue grass, unless it be couch grass, which is usually looked upon as a weed. Blue grass Is gradually working westward and with occupancy of the lands, it puts in an appearance, although it does not come so read- ily In the open prairie as in those sections of the west naturally capa- ble of growing timber. Nor does it grow so vigorously when It has been established. Nevertheless It is doubtless destined to overrun very much ot th« west In time, so that after land has been once culti- vated and then allowed to run wild again, blue grass will be the vari- ety which will take possession of such soils. Its advent In the North- tr Plants. it falls to Klve d be ploughed v% .should be of on prairie soils timothy mead- Ich Is of great if for no other e soils. nial with creep- probably from s seeds in the blue grass. It ably the origin r, as it properly ieiy distributed IS a flat stem of e. It does not irlety has been lade into hay, igh so heavily, id. It seems to portions of the n It is so well soon take pos- ere Is probably n hold its own usually looked :h occupancy of t come so read- naturally capa- y when it has i*£d to overrun een once culti- 111 be the vari- it In the North- Cultivated Grasses and Cloven, n west should be encouraged, for, though it has some weak points, it is much superior to the native prairie as a pasture. Biu« grass springs up early In the season. It is et its best for pro- viding pasture in all the Northern States early In June, and in those further to the southward in May. Then it remains dormant in summer and springs into life again in the autumn with the arrival of the au- tumnal rains. In Kentucky and other states in latitudes where the winters are mild, this grass furnishes much food at that season. The chief exception taken to blue grass in the Northwest is the long period during which it lies dormant in the summer. This can in pare be rem- edied by refraining from pasturing too closely. From what has been said, it will be apparent that this grass will grow in almost any kind of soil, that under reasonable conditions no difficulty will be found in sustaining it, and that once In the soil it is likely to spring up a^ain after the land has been cultivated. Moreover, owing to the many root stocks which it produces, blue grass serves an excellent purpose In putting vegetable matter In the soil which will bring moisture to It wlien other crops have been made to follow it. Its appearance therefore should be countenanced by sowing It freely where it has not yet been grown. Blue grass is grown more for pasture than for hay, and when grown alone it futnishei the most common form of permanent pasture found in America. It Is seldom sown to produce hay. On old cultivated lands it will come Into a permanent pasture composed of mixed grasses as it were spontaneously in two or three years, but Its advent Is hastened by sowing some of the seed when the permanent pasture is laid down. The seed is commonly sown by hand and covered with the harrow. It may be put in with a nurse crop the same as other grasses. Two bushels of seed are recommended per acre when blue grass is the only grass sown. The seed weighs 14 lbs. per bushel. When this grass has once become established it will stand any amount of cropping. The cold of winter seems to have no power to kill it, and it seems virtually able to endure the most prolonged drought of summer. Blue grass must be very promptly cut when it Is to be cured for hay. If allowed to get too far advanced before it is cut it will be almost valueless for fodder, and the same Is true when it is allowed to dry too much In the sun while being cured. Blue grass is ready for cutting when once fully cr t 'o hjad. r 14 Grasses, Clovers, Field Roots, Forage and Fodder Plants. Orchard ara««.— Orchard grass {Dactylis glomerata)A^tt Fig. I) Is a perennial which grows vigorously on suitable soils. It Is thought to be a native of Europe, but Is now found In North Africa, India and North America. Noted for Its persistent growth. It furnishes good pasture ir. the spring and also In the autumn, ordinarily growing from two to two and a half feet In height when matured. The leaves are numerous, large and somewhat coarse. The heads are branched rather than single. This grass Is possessed of wonderful adaptation to various soils and climates, and to different modes of treatment. As the name Im- plies, it Is well suited to shady places, such as orchards and groves, where the foliage Is not too dense. It grows particularly well In the climate of New England. In some of the Central States It has also proved a decided success. But In the West the accounts regarding it are not quite so hopeful, and In the Northwest experience with ref- erence to growing It is as yet comparatively limited. Some of those who have tried It are well pleased with the results. On the slopes of the Pacific, where the rainfall Is abundant, orchard grass should do very well. This grass Is grown both as a pasture and for hay, but more espec- ially to provide pasture. In congenial situations no other grass prob- ably will equal it In furnishing pasture, in orchards and open groves, but it will not grow in a thicket or amid underwood. It Is much given to growing in tufts, particularly as It becomes older. This may be par- tially prevented by sowing the seed thickly. When raised for hay under favorable conditions, more than one crop per year Is sometimes obtained. And when but one crop is cut In the season the aftermath is usually luxuriant. Orchard grass Is more suitable for pasture than for meadow, for the reason, first, that the leaves are abundant in proportion to the stems; second, it commences to grow very early in the spring, fully two weeks sooner than almost any other variety of cultivated grass, and It con- tinues to flourish where the moisture Is sufficient until frosts come In the autumn; third. It Is less affected by the drought of summer than many other varieties of grass, and fourth, where the conditions are favorable Its durability Is marked. This grass has been grown on the same land for from thirty to forty years. Orchard grass Is best adapted to good, strong, deep loam soils, free 'er Plants, 3/rt),fseeFlg.l) . It is thouKht frica, India and furnislies good / Kfowing from Tiie leaves are ^ranched rather to various soils i the name Im- Js and groves, iriy well In the tes it has also Its regarding it •ience with ref- Some of those >n the slopes of rass should do Jut more espec- her grass prob- ipen groves, but much given to is may be par- raised for hay ir is sometimes he aftermath is neadow, for the I to the stems; uily twowepks ss, and it con- frosts come in f summer than conditions are I grown on the loam soils, free V fft^titMitfi a*A%AAM ^«MiWtv t* • FlQ. 1. Orcbabd Obabs. ]f) Grassis, Clov^fi, Field Roots, torag* and Fodder Plantt. 't I I I- ng with blue urable perma> epend largely as both blue the ground to g of the latter n early bloom. I unpalatable, soon as ready. I by live stock, of cutting the the grass high he ground for But it should d of its adapt' irst, it may be CulUvated Gratm and Clovtrs, 17 sown thinly In groves free from underwood, in the very early spring, and second, it may be sown by itself at the same season, on a well pre- pared plot of ground somewhat limited In extent. Meadow Feacue.- Meadow fescue (/Vs/ma firaUMiis) is a peren- nial and lll'« Interested. MMdow Foxtoll. -Meadow f«xf.,l. (.//../,.«,•«, /»,„/.«,/,) |, , timothy but has a smaller and softer head. Is more leafy In character and springs up quickly when pastured or mown. Although indigenous to turope it is now found In North Africa, Western Asia and America. .„ .K * mT '"'"i""' " ^'"^' '^"''"'"^ °' '"'y ''""age in nroportlon to the stalk, hence It is much relished by live stock. It Is among (he a month earlier han timothy. Like orchard grass It will thrive well under trees and in shady places, but It will also grow when exposed timothy """•'""'• •' " "'^ '° '• '^'" -""^^ hardy'th^n ♦h.n'^,"''"'^ '?*"" '».^"«''«J«^'»«d '«l«t'vfly for permanent pastures than for meadows. When sown in meadows, other grasses which mature more quickly are apt to crowd meadow foxtail which does not reach its best until three or four years after it has been sown. The seed Is not produced so freely as that of some other kinds of grass, and londiS'"" '""'"'^" *^''" '^""''' '"' P'"^'""y ""''" «»»'" In ^\!^7 T^"" ''.f«?'"' *" ^"P' '"'' »«"•''• ""< '« «'»« flourishes n moist climates on stiff loams and clays. It cannot IK-c in a water- logged soli and yet It is well suited to land subject to irrigation. It is but ll-adapted to light, dry soils lacking in plant food and In power to retain moisture. ^..^J!^A^V^''^ ''"'*"" '','^*" "'""'= '''"" *^° <" 'hree bushels of seed would be necessary. The seed is sown in the chaff. It only weighs about five pounds per bushel. It is common to sow it by hand rtismird'Li!h''K''':K ''""^- ^"^^ '°^" •" ''"•"-«="» p^^^^" It is mixed with the other coarse seeds and sown along with them I. iif rf.! !"" as regards the growing of this grass In the Northwest, is llmi ed. hence but little can be said as to its adaptability. But we know in reference to It that It Is hardy and that It grows early in the season, therefore it is worthy of a trial. ■^p ' i I * i II I t .IM 10 Onutft, C/tH'f". fi'^'f A'. .'/. / 'r.ifft am/ l-o.i.h*^ V hnh, R«»fore It In tha Northwett. wh«r« It ha» glv«n th« mo«t«ncour- aglnK result*. Red top Is of a aomawhat aknder habit of growth. If has rather fin* follauf and throw* out a alender open and spreadlrm head. A red lop meadow when matured or " i>en It I* approach', .« maturity ha* « tInKe that may be defined «» red.'l^h brown, hence probablv the orJKln of the name. The root stocki push throuKh the soil and form fresh plants so that when there U only a thin seeding of the plant* at first. Ihey soon spread nnd take possession of the soil, unless when growing along with some variety of grass that U peculiarly aggrflsslve. Thii grass grows more slowly than some other grasses. It will furnish pas- ture or hay at may be desired. In fcading value It takes a place cer- talnlv not less than medium. Hed top thrives naturallv on a molat soil, too moist for growing up- land grasses upon It successfully. It will not grow well upon hlnh. dry solla. This grass will usually grow however on lands that will produce timothy, but timothy may be destroyed by water on soils where red top will continue to live and flourish. When sown alone It has been recommended that from two to three bushels of seed, that Is to say twenty-four to thlrty^x pounds should be used per acre. It may be sown by Itself or with some nurse crop adapted to moist soils, such as barley fo' i i»t«*' i. » ' w years If allowed to ripen Its seeds from year to year. It may be sown In sloughs and wet places not yet dry enough for the plow. In such places only a few pounds of seed per acre are needed and the seed should be sown as soon as the work can be easily done. When purchasing seed prefer- ence should be given to what Is termed the "fancy or solid," that Is to say, the clean sred rather than seed In the chaff as It Is Impossible to determine really the amount of pure seed which the latter contains. kL varittit*. It ir applkAtloii. In nfl«rl/ tH ft. Al»>">y;> the CitltMU it an ImpurUnl t mo»l ancour* It ha» rnthrr hmJ. A r«J lalurlty, hat a blv the orl^ln Ml] (iirm lre»li planl» nt first, when growing r««»»lv«. Thl» 11 turnlth pav )» a place t.rr' orgrcwIxKup' upoiihluh, dry lat will produce kolls where red )m two to three pounds tliould )me nurse crop nay frequently me. And It ll ifingU' 1 l( . n. ears If allowed In slougli!! and aces only a (ew lid be sown as ng seed prefer- ilid," that Is to s Impossible to er contains. Fio. X Austrian Hromi Orahs. (OmiMui Inertmu,, 22 Gt asses, Clovers, Field Roots, Forage and Fodtlrr Plants. Wild llmoihy.—SNMWmoWxyiMuhli'nbcrj^iaglomerata) is also called drop seed grass. This grass which bears no iittle resembiance to timofhy Is Indigenous to the Northwest. It is one of the limited number of the wild varieties of the region named, which gives promise of profitable returns from cultivation. The heads rather resemble those of orchard grass than timothy. This grass has been very successfully grown for the past five years at the Experimental Farm at Brandon, Manitoba. During the past four years nearly two tons of hay per acre have been harvested each year. The manager of the farm, Mr. S. A, Bedford, speaks of it favorably. It makes good hay though Its properties for pasture do not seem to have been determined as yet. This grass is adapted to average prairie soils, but it will not do so well on those dry and hungry. It yields seed freely. The seed weighs about twenty pounds per bushel, and from five to ten pounds of the seed are used per acre. But the heavier seed- ing is rather preferred. In preparing the soil it has been customary to sumi.ier fallow it and then to sow the seed from August 1st to August 15th, when a crop of the grass may be obtained the following year. It may also be sown early In the spring along with a nurse crop thinly seeded. This grass should be tried in all parts of this country. Austrian Brome Qraas.— Austrian brome grass {Browns incr- mus) (see Fig. 2) is a native of Europe, and one of the most promising cultivated grasses that has yet been tried on the prairies of the west. It is very hardy, enduring very low temperatures in winter, and pos- sessing great power to grow in dry climates, under adverse conditions. It Is well adapted to produce either hay or pasture. This grass comes up quickly in the spring and makes a rapid growth, and when it has been cut for hay the aftermath is also abundant unless the weather should be abnormally dry. It sends numerous root stocks through the soil to form fresh plants, hence it will probably require to be ploughed up after having been mowed or pastured for a limited term of years. The foliage is abundant on Austrian brome grass, and it produces seed profusely. Mr. A. MacKay, Superintendent of the Experimental Farm, at Indian Head, Assiniboia, obtained one hundred and fifty pounds of seed from one-fourth of an acre in 1893. The seed weighs 14 pounds per bushel. More than, two tons per acre have been harvested during each of the past three years at the aforementioned farm. K saa rs^TA. y Plants. 'terata) is also e resemblance of the limited gives promise resemble those past five years 1(4 the past four ted each year, favorably, it seem to have ;e prairie soils, It yields seed ihel, and from ! heavier seed- imer fallow It 1, when a crop y also be sown d. This Krass {Brotitus titer- (lost promising es of the west, inter, and pos- irse conditions, lis grass comes >d when It has is the weather ;ks through the to be ploughed term of years. t produces seed rimental Farm, fifty pounds of ighs 14 pounds irvested during Cultivated Grasses and Clovers. 23 Austrian brome grass seems well suited to the soils usually found on the prairie. In moist climates it may be too aggressive to grow with other grasses, and this property also may exclude It from permanent pastures. But for growing on dry soils it seems to have few equals. The ground is prepared for this grass in the same way as for wild timothy previously discussed. Fifteen pounds of seed per acre are sufficient. Austrian brome grass should be tried by every farmer in the Northwest. A plant with properties so valuable ca.inot be obtained too soon. Clovers. The clovers are of inestimable value to tne agriculturist wherever they can be successfully grown. They furnish excellent pasture during a large poition of the year, and they yield, a healthful, nutritious and valuable fodder which may be advantageously fed to any class of live stock. The roots of the different varieties of clover go more or less deeply Into the subsoil, whence they obtain moisture to sustain growth In dry weather. They also bring up plant food which may be utilized in growing crops unable to gather food from tar below the surface of the soil. And when the roots decay they furnish channels through which the super-abundant moisture may escape downwards. The roots and rootlets bring much vegetable matter to the soil. These bind light lands together and thus make them less porous, and they render stlrf clays more open and frialle. All kinds of clover are peculiarly helpful not only In sustaining the fertility of the soil, but in still further Increasing the same, owing to the wonderful power which they have of absorbing nitrogen from the air, and also to the great extent to which they store the same in the soil. The most valuable varieties of clover as yet grown upon this con- tinent Include the common red, mammoth, alsike, lucerne, white, crim- son and yellow varieties. Common or Medium Clover — The common red clover (Tri- folium pratense) is so well known that a detailed description of It is not necessary. It is unquestionably one of the most useful plants ever given to mankind by a beneficlent Creator. Ordinarily it yields two good crops of hay during the second season of its growth-, or one crop of hay and one crop of seed, or one crop of hay followed by several months of pasturage. It will furnish pasture through the whole of the second season where the same may be required, but usually dies at the %^ 24 Grasses, C/oTt-rx, Field Roots, Forage and Fodder Plants. end of the second yeai as it is a biennial, althouKii sometimes under very favorable conditions it may live longer when not allowed to pro- duce seed. Clover will do well in almost any kind of soil, but better results relatively are obtained when it is grown on clay loams with a subsoi| of clay not too dense, li will grow satisfactorily on stiff clays, but on these in dry seasons there is difficulty in getting a "catch" of the seed. In such seasons it will also pine and die on porous sands after the plants have made a start. A bare fallow, a corn crop or a root crop mais as it is then d is in a honey- % or just after a are very favor- : obtained from is dry enough row. In moist ice to cover the inarily be cov- 1 when sowing n sown on the and It may be akes high rank mon to cut the I. The second ured until that Cultivated O'/nsu-.f and CloTrrs. 2'; season arrives when, had it not been so pastured, the he.ads would form. The pasturing then ceases and a crop of seed is grown. By managing thus the clover midge may be bafilcd. The seed is ready for harvest- ing whe.i two-thirds of the heads are ripe. A machine is used in cut- ling the crop which leaves the clover in bunches where It lies until re.idy for being stacked or threshed. From two to three bushels per acre is an aver.ige yield but sometimes much more than the quantity named Is produced. The seed is threshed by a machine termed a "huller." Where such machines are not available the farmer can beat out tiie seed with a flail and sow in the chaff, bu^ of course such seed would not be of any use for marketing. The common red clover is now most successfully grown in manv parts of the Northwest, where at one time it was supposed it could not be raised. It may be mentionod here without hazard and without paus- ing to give the reasons that clover will yet be grown with favorable re- sults much further to the north and west than at present, and that It will be grown with increased success as the soil becomes older where a judicious system of farming Is pursued. Drought at that season of the year when the young plants have not yet made much growth and while their tap roots have not yet gone down beyond the influences of surface evaporation is the great obstacle In the way of getting a good "stand" of clover, hence the importance of early sowing and of prepar- ing the soil by previous cultivation to resist the influences of drought. Mammoth Clover.— Mammoth clover {Tri/olium /iratmse or Medium) bears a somewhat close resemblance to the common red variety in the shape of the leaves and stalks, and in the shape and color of the head. It is of much stronger growth however than the latter, has a larger stem in proportion, grows considerably taller, possesses larger heads and furnishes a much greater quantity of fodder. This clover also ripens some two or three weeks later, and produces but little after- math, whether it Is grown for the seed or for hay. It also sends its roots down more deeply into the soil. Mammoth clover is therefore more valuable than the common red variety, first, when used as a green manure, owing to the dense mass of vegetable matter which it furnishes both in the tops and in the roots; second, on prairie soils which do not produce a strong growth of the small variety, and third, on stiff clays which do not grow the mam- moth variety so lu.\uriantly as to make the fodder coarse. It is less ! 26 Grasses, Clovers, Field Roots, Forage and Fod der Plants. valuable, first, in moist climates where the aftermath is needed for pas- ture; second, where both a crop of hay and a yield of seed are sought the same season, for the mammoth clover will only stand one cuttlnR in the year, and third, on strong soils on which the large variety would grow too coarse to make good fodder. Mammoth clover is therefore adapted to the same kinds of soil as the common red variety, with the difference that preference should be given to the large variety wherever the small kind Is deficient In bulk of forage or fodder. It Is also suited to the sa'iie climates and its place In the rotation isthe^ame. The preparation of the ground Is similar and the same modes of sowing may be adopted. The amounts of seed will also be nearly the same, but a little more of the mammoth variety may be used. Mammoth clover and timothy ripen about the same time, hence they may be profitably grown together for hay, wh^n the clover is not so thick and strong as to overshadow the tim- othy. When mammoth clover Is grown for seed It should be sown alone; that Is to say, no other kind of clover or grass should be sown along with it. It IS ready for cutting when two-thirds of the heads are ripe. It is harvested and threshed In the same way as the small variety. In sections where the growth will probably be rank, It may be well to pasture the clover for two or three weeks in the early spring. Another plan would be to run the mower over It when It Is a few Inches high. The portion of the crop which is then cut will furnish a good mulch in dry weather. An average crop of seed Is from two to three bushels per acre. Al5ike Clover.— Alsike clover {Trifolium hybridum) Is of European origin. It Is a perennial, and is one of the most hardy and vigorous of all the varieties of clover as yet Introduced into America. It usually grows to the height of from twelve to eighteen inches, but in congenial soils and under favorable climatic conditions It attains a height considerably greater. It Is fine In Its habits of growth, and has a large proportion of leaves, hence its excellence as a food for live stock when used as fodder, more especially for sheep and lambs. The heads are numerous but small, and the blossoms are a beautiful delicate crimson. Alsike clover Is rapidly gaining In favor all over the northern half of this continent. It seems singularly well adapted to the conditions of W Plants. I needed for pas- seed are sought and one cutting ge variety would kinds of soil as rence should be leficlent In bulk tes and Its place ound is similar rhe amounts of f the mammoth hy ripen about ogether for hay, shadow the tim- I be sown alone; be sown along ! heads are ripe, nail variety. In may be well to spring. Another ew Inches high, h a good mulch to three bushels •bridum) is of nost hardy and d Into America. >n inches, but In ons it attains a growth, and has )od for live stock nbs. The heads eautlful delicate le northern half the conditions of =1 i Fia. a. AiiSiKB oa Swedish Cluvkb. *BlllWIB,tM!>M!li»aa!3)g3ie««>a.< growth In some of the New England States, In Ontario, Canada, and In some of the Provinces lying further to the east. But It will also grow In fine form In congenial situations westward from the States and Provinces named to the Pacific. Although very hardy It does not seem well able to withstand the winters of Manitoba and Asslnlbola, but in all the Noithern and Northwestern states of the Union, alsike clover will prove a valuable crop, and also In the adjoining states to the southward. This clover prefers damp, moist, loam soils, but It will also grow fairly well In stiff clays. In the Northwestern States the best results are obtained from sowing alsike clover on damp, moist bottom lands, but In the states of the Union and in the Provinces of Canada lying to the east 'rom Michigan, where the annual rainfall Is greater, it will grow well on average arable soils, particularly on those underlaid with a moderately porous subsoil. When raised for the seed, the lower lands are not so suitable as those somewhat higher, as they produce an excess of growth In the stalk and leaf. This plant develops feebly on light, sandy and grave'ly soils, so much so that it Is unwise to grow It upon these. The preparation of the soil for alsike clover Is the same virtually as for common red clover. And the conditions which govern the sow- ing are also very similar. It may be sown with much advantage along with timothy, for making hay, for the reason first, that both of these crops are well adapted to moist soils, and second, that they also mature about the same time. If grown for seed It should be grown alone as It Is Impossible to separate alsike clover seed from timothy seed, they are so nearly alike In size. The time for sowing this crop is the same asfor common red clover, that Is, the early spring. When grown for hay, along with timothy, about three pounds of the clover and six pounds of the timothy per acre will be found sufficient. If grown for the seed from five to six pounds may be named as an average quantity. The seed is sown with a nurse crop, and barley will probably be found the most suitable, as It Is adapted to the same kinds of soil as the clover. The sowing of the seed may be done by hand, with a hand sower, or best of all with the grass seed sow.ng attachment to the grain drill. In the Northwest If the seed is allowed to fall before the grain tubes, it will be sufficiently covered, otherwise It would require a light covering with the harrow. lier Plants, rio, Canada, anJ But It will also m the States and ' it does not seem .sslnlbola, but In on, alsike clover Ing states to the It will also Rrow the best results st bottom lands, Canada lyiiiK to Is greater, it will se underlaid with seed, the lower s they produce an veiops feebly on mwlse to grow It e same virtually govern the sow- I advantage along lat both of these t they also mature p;rown alone as it hy seed, they are »mmon red clover, ng with timothy, e timothy per acre ive to six pounds iown with a nurse suitable, as it is lie sowing of the St of all with the the Northwest If 'ill be sufficiently with the harrow. CuUivateJ Grasses ami Clovers. In states with a moist climate, rolling the ground after the seed Is sown would provide a sufficient covering. Alsllii;A: ' 30 Grasses, Clovtrs, FitU Roots, Forngt and Fodder PttHtl, go down deeply In suitable soils, hence lucerne Is better able to with* stand the Influences of dry weather than the other varieties of clover. Despite Its vigor when established, It Is a delicate plant when yoi-nR, and therefore more liable to perish the first season than other kinds of clover. It Is rather Rrown for solllnn and fodder uses than for pasture, althouuh under certain conditions It furnishes excellent pasture. Lu- cerne Is better adapted to mild than to cold climates, hence It Is exten- sively grown In southern Burope and the warmer and dryer portions of the United States westward from the Mississippi River, it will thrive fairly well in New England, In the Middle States and In Ontario, Can- ada, but In countries where red clover will >{row rapidly the latter Is commonly considered a more profitable plant than lucerne, as It Is much better adapted to a short rotation. The precise value of lucerne In the Northwest has not yet been determined, but In some states, as for Instance Montana, It grows well. This clover should be carefully tried In all parts of the Northwest where the soils are at all suitable, as, owing to Its ability to grow In dry weather. It will prove valuable In the areas named wherever It can be grown. In some countries lucerne is more commonly known by the name of alfalfa. Lucerne Is admirably adapted for soiling uses, as It will furnish two cuttings a year, and In some instances as many as four. On irri- gated soils even a larger number of crops have been obtained In one season. It does not stand close cropping so well as red clover, it Is rich In protein and hence Is excellent for producing milk and muscle if pastured or fed as hay. In countries where the climate is moist It may produce bloating when the live stock feed very freely upon It, particu- larly when It is damp, because of this it may be well to wilt it some- what before feeding It when It Is to be used as a soiling food. Lucerne is also valuable as a source of fertility, since it has much power to absorb nitrogen from the air and from the subsoil. Lucerne is best adapted to sandy and loam soils, with a deep, porous, calcareous subsoil, and In those parts of Minnesota where good results have not been obtained. It has probably been owing very largely to the lack of lime in the subsoil. When once established it will grow fairly well on clays, providing the subsoil is of the proper character. The nature of the surface soil is of less consequence than that of the subsoil, and yet lucerne will not grow well on some soils. It does not seem well suited to black loams, more especially those deficient in W Planlt. '.X able to with* Iftlfs of clover, it when yoi'tiK, other kinds of iian for pasture, t pasture, l.u- ciice it is exten- Iryer portions of , It will thrive 1 Ontario, Can- (]ly the latter is ucerne, as it is 'aiue of lucerne some states, as ulJ be carefully : at ail suitable, prove valuable some countries a. ) It will furnish I four. On irri- obtained In one ed clover. It is \V. and muscle If \ is moist It may upon it, partlcu- to wilt it some- ; food. Lucerne much power to Is, with a deep, sota where good 'Ing very larReiy ihed it will grow proper character, than that of the )ils. It does not iose deficient in I FXO 4. AtrALTA OB LUCBRNE ClOVKB. !^ k\ ' 32 Gr0.ws, C/tnvn, FUM KtnHs, Fcragt tmt FwMtr PlanH, ciny, Nor can It be made to flourish under any condition when the subsoil holds watei for a prolonned period at any season of the year. This clover Is sown early In the sprlnit. It may be sown alone or alonn with another crop. The preparation of the soil for lucerne Is much the same as for red clover. When It Is sown alone the mower should he run over tlic ground once or more frequently In the season, to prevent weeds from maturing their seeds, but the mower knife should be made to cut as hi^h as possible above the ground. The seed may be scattered by hand or with a hand machine. It should be care- fully covered with the harrow, and somewhat deeply on prairie soils, but not to so great a depth on those more dense In character. When sown wllh a grain crop rye and barley have been found more suitable than other cereals. One bushel per acre of the nurse crop, that Is, of the barley or of the rye, will suffice. The lucerne may be sown at the same time as the grain. If the seed can be made to fall before the grain tubes It will be sufTiciently covered without being harrowed. From twelve to twenty pounds of seed are required per acre. In some countries lucerne is sown in rows eight Inches or more apart, and is hoed or cultivated from two to four or five times during the first season. When thus cultivated the plants make a strong growth the first season, hence they are better able to withstand the vicissitudes of adverse weather. This method will answer when only small quantities are desired, but for large areas It is Impracticable where labor is costly. And it may be well to mention here that It would doubtless be a good plan to grow a small quantity of lucerne near the stable lor soiling usi-s when it would not be wise to grow it as a prin- cipal crop. Much care Is necessary in harvesting lucerne. When allowed to pass the early stage of bloom before being cut it becomes woody, and in consequence its feeding value is much impaired. Care should be taken to put It up In cocks or colls as soon as it has become dry enough to be drawn together with the horse rake. When allowed to lie long on the ground, exposed to the Influences of the hot sun, the leaves break off when it Is being handled, hence the loss from this source is very extensive. In climates subject to unsteady weather In harvest time lucerne, like red clover, is very difficult to cure when showers fall frequently. The seed from lucerne is commonly taken from the second cutting for the season. i:' nJltlori when the ton of the year. be sown alone or oil tor liKerne Is alone the mower fly In the seaiwn, he mower knife ;roiind. The seed t should be care- ' on prairie soils, haracter. When nd more suitable e crop, that Is, of y be sown at the } fall before the beInK harrowed, r acre. it Inches or more five times during make a stronK to withstand the iswer when only iractlcable where re that It would lucerne near the row It as a prin- ^hen allowed to mes woody, and Care should be las become dry ^hen allowed to he hot sun, the ! loss from this eady weather in t to cure when ommonly taken SSSSISS^ArfP ■* CuiUvmltJ Gmuti tmt Chwrt, W When a field of lucerne Is to be ptouKhed the task may prove an arduous one It undertaken with the ordinary plouKh, owing to tin- dlf- ficuliy of cutting off tha strong roots of the lucerne. The prot' of ploughing will be much facilitated by having the plough-share laid with a plate of steel, the edges of which are serrated. This gives th« share a cutting power which it does not ordinarily possess, and in von- sequence enables It to cut off the strong r(M)ts of the lucerne which would otherwise probably turn the plough out of its course. Whit* Clover. - White clover ( Tri/ohum rt/>int) Is more gener- ally distributed than any other variety. It is claimed that It Is iiidl- geneous to both Europe and America. It Is sometimes called Dutch clover, and will grow readily In all the northern areas of the United States where It has been tried, although It seems better adapted to those states with a fair amount of rainf.iH during the season of growth, and in which the soil possesses a goodly portion of the clay element. White clover Is the most aggressive of all the clovers. In reuard to aggressiveness it bears about the same relation to the other varieties of clover as blue grass does to the other varieties of grass. It would seem to travel westward In the wake of coloni/ation and settlemetit. It follows man with its beneficent mission, and when once establiitlD-d In the soil it springs up again, while at the same time it does not hin- der cultivation or Interfere In any adverse way with the rotation of crops. This valuable little plant Is of a low, spreading, recumbent habit of growth. It throws out tendrils which possess the power of becom- ing rooted at intervals In the soil, hence the explanation of the extent to which it covers the soil. The biosjoms are pure while or tlnut-d with crimson. The heads seldom reach the height ot une foot above the surface of the ground. The blossoms appear in June In the North- ern states, and where the climate Is moist the season of bloom Is prolonged. White clover Is seldom sown for hay, although when it is desir- able to have hay of a fine quality, to feed sheep tor Instance, It may be profitable to sow it as one part of a mixture. It grows singularly well along with blue grass, hence wherever a blue grass pasture has become well established, in time we find white clover growing along with it. Wherever the two grow together the one seems to aid rather than to retard the growth of the other. The blue grass furnishes a i |» Omutt, CUvtn, FitU Ihth, l^r.ig* anJ FoJJtr PUnh. gratfful ihaJe to lh« clover, favorabl* to Itt Jev«lopmtnt. and lh« dover In turn fc* J» the blue «'«««: a«. being a Ugumt, It hd« the power ot absorblnu nltronen Irotn the atinotphere. Like blue Krass It will come Into a permat.ciit paiture m It wrre spontaneously, on all Killt where It grew previously. But when these lanjs arc laid down to permanent pasture. It will hasten the advent of the clover If lome o» the seed be sown alunic with the other grastet of the mixture. AlthouKh white clover will grow on a great variety of soils. It la better adapted to those which are moist and which are not too light In texture. On loam soils It grows much more luxuriantly than on grav- els, for Instance. It Is not so well suited to the humus soils of the prilrle as to those of firmer texture, yet It will do fairly well on these. Its growth should be everywhere encouraged In the prairies, since It brings fertility to the land, furnishes valuable pasture, and also adds to the moisture of the soil. In preparing the soil for white clover fine pulverUatlon Is essen- tial, as the seed of this plant Is very small and the growth of the plant is delicate at first. The soil should also be In a clean condition, lest weeds injure the clover by their growth while It is still young. The seed m.iv be sown In a manner similar to that of other clover seeds. When sown alone from three to four pounds of seed will be found ample for one acre. If sown along with a nurse crop the latter should be thin rather than dense. White clover should be encouraged to grow over all the North- west. The seed should be strewn over waste places and In all parts where the land Is not soon to be cultivated, unless where the shade or the excess of moisture are likely to retard successful growth. Why not have a good thing speedily, when we can obtain It by putting forth an effort, rather than wait long years for Its arrival? It Is one of the best pl.uits for ylelJlng honey In America. Crimson Clover. -Crimson clover ( TrifoHum imamafum) (see Fig. 5) Is a native of Central and Southern Europe. It has not been extensively grown In America until within a comparatively recent period. There are at least five varieties, of which four have scarlet blossoms and the fifth a white one. It grows from one to two feet high, has strong upright stems, and large, cone shaped heads of a beau- tiful crimson hue. The roots go down deeply Into the soil, hence this plant has been found of much value In fertilizing light and worn lands. ■^■■■■VMHMi fifr rtaith. pmcnt, attkl th« "Wr, II hd» Ihfl ke hluD k'rats It nroutly, on all I arc IdlJ down lover If wTM of ixture, ty of tolls, It !• not loo light In ^ than on grav- us soils of the / well on these. )r«lrle», since It anvl also adds :atlon Is essen* ^th of the plant condition, lest II young. The sr clover seeds. will be found le latter should all the North- ind In all parts e the shade or irowth. Why y putting forth t is one of the artiatum) (see : has not been raflvely recent ir have scarlet ne to two feet eadsof a beau- oil, hence this id worn lands. FlO- & UC'AIU.aT UH CUlMltUM ULOVUL J r .1 l! I' •■! .16 Grasses, C/orers, Field Roots, Forage and Fodder Plants. Criin:.o.i cbver Is better adapted to mild latitudes than to those In which the climate Is severe. It Is an annual, making the principal por- tion of Its growth In the autumn und In the spring. It finds much favor in the middle and lower Atlantic states, and in those bordering on the Gulf of Mexico. In the Central states the yields are not quite so satis- factory. In the states which border on the Mississippi from Minnesota southward, this clover should prove valuable. In the New England, Northern and Northwestern states, it seems to be too delicate to endure the severity of the winter. But it will probably be found that when «own in the early spring it will give a good yield of hay the same sea- son on rich, damp soils, and in many sec- lions of the localities named. And to ascer- tain if such be the case, it is well worthy of ex- tended trial. Crimson clover is best adapted to light, warm, free -working soils, but it will grow on any kind of soil open ill texture and yet not so light as to be unable to retain moist* ure well. It Is not well suited to stiff, cold clays, as in these it grows too slowly. In the light fruit lands of tiie middle and lower Via. A. ITiiAD OF Crim- son CUjOVEU. Nat- CRAL Size. Atlantic States, it has rendered excellent ser- vice, not only in pro- ducing fodder but also in furnishing a cheap means of renovating these. The preparation of the soil for this crop involves clean tillage, and a fine seed bed. When wanted for pas- ture, soiling, hay or green manuring in the early part of the sea- son, it would need to be sown from July to September, according to the locality and con- ditions. It is a com- mon practice to sow it in the standing corn at the time when the last cultivation is given the corn. But it can be sown alone very well on land from which some crop has been reaped after the same has been ploughed. It does not answer well to sow w!th winter rye as a nurse crop, for the clover grows so vigorously that it hinders the growth of the rye. When sown in the spring to be cut the same season, it would need to be put i nto the ground early, and it would also require to occupy the ground der P/ahti, than to those in the principal por- finds much favor )orderinK on the ot quite so satis- from Minnesota e New England, lelicate to endure ound that when ay the same sea- :ic States, it has ed excellent ser- not only In pro- I fodder but also nishing a cheap > of renovating e preparation of )il for this crop 'es clean tillage, I fine seed bed. wanted for pas- soiling, hay or manuring in the part of the sea- t would need to wn from July to Tiber, according locality andcon- s. It is a com- )ractice to sow it ition is given the rom which some led. It does not p, for the clover the rye. When d need to be put cupy the ground Cultivated Grasaei and Clovers. 37 alone. The mode of sowing would be the same as with common red clover. Crimson clover sown in the summer and autumn months is ready for harvestinn toward the close of the spring or the advent of summer. It Is cut for hay at the same stage as common red clover. Difficulty is sometimes found in harvesting the crop at the season named. Good crops of crimson clover produce large yields of seed, but the harvesting of the same requires prompt attention as soon as the crop is Pio. 7. Crimson Clovkb Leaf. Natuiiai. sizk. ripe, owing to the ease with which the matured seeds are shed. The heads are large, hence when soaked with rain, they dry out so slowly that trouble frequently arises from the sprouting of the seed. Where crimson clover will stand the winter well it will be found specially useful for the following purposes; First, It will provide pas- ture and excellent soiling food early In the season. Second, it will pro- i > iiiiiiui.*{Jwwm>t'^?T»»» "" IHHb*W|A«ni*« 38 Graases, Clcvers, Field Roots, Forafff and Fodder Plants. !l i duce green manures to be plowed under In time to grow another crop the same season. Third it may be used in renovating orchards with but iittle outiay and in furnishing a soft, clean bed in them on which fruit may fall. And fourth, it wili in a degree bind drift soils and pre- vent washing on hill sides. Yellow Clover.—Yellow clover {Medicago lupulind) sometimes called trefoil, is a somewhat diminutive variety, of a creeping or re- cumbent rather than an upright habit of growth. It is of European origin but In some parts of this continent It seems to grow admirably. In England it grows so freely on some limestone soils that It Is trouble- some to the crops which come later. In the United States It will grow vigorously on the soils of New England and of some states further to the west, and in Ontario, Canada, it also seems to be at home. But in the Central and Northwestern States it appears to have received very little attention, more particularly in the latter where experience in growing it would seem to be almost entirely lacking. Yellow clover begins to grow quite early In the season. In the Northern states It blooms in June, and matures its seeds about the end of that month, although where pastured closely it continues to produce new flowers for a period considerably later. It has a pretty yellow blossom, from which the name was doubtless derived. Although yellow clover may be grown in a meadow, it is not well adapted for being thus grown, as other grasses crowd and shade it too much. But when sown as part of a mixture to form a permanent pas- ture, it seems to possess much power of retaining its hold upon the soil. It produces fine food tor sheep and other kinds of live stock, but does not grow so well late in the season as white clover. It yields seed abundantly, hence when It once gets into the soil It will after- wards spring up in a pasture of its own accord. As already intimated, yellow clover will grow vigorously in lime- stone soils. It is not well adapted to light soils. Like other varieties of clover it seems to make good use of the potash brought to it in the clay found in many loams. Nor Is it well suited to low and very moist soils, such as favor the growth of aisike clover. Yellow clover may be sown the same as other varieties. When sown alone from four to six pounds of seed per acre would be required. A nurse crop would also be in order for this plant. When sown along with other grasses for meadow which is afterwards to be turned into a Jim ITMlllHl tju^m* frr Plants. )w another crop K orchards with them on which ft soils and pre- 'ina) sometimes creeping or re- is of European row admirably, hat It is trouble- ites it will grow itates further to at home. But I have received lere experience season. In the s about the end lues to produce I pretty yellow V, It Is not well nd shade It too permanent pas- hold upon the live stock, but )ver. It yields il It will after- rously in lime- other varieties ht to It in the and very moist rietles. When ild be required, en sown along e turned into a Cultivated Grasses and Clovers, 39 pacture, it will not be necessary to use more than two pounds of seed, and even a less quantity may suffice. This clover should be given a trial In the Northwest. The seed is not costly and it belongs to a family of plants of good reputation, hence it may be found of consider- able value to the agriculture of the area named. i w^HWtol.«> jnJ |lKM r i liH l W i W ' fc BffWtt»«y'^»'^^ *Ml l llMW » ^M !» W» t *WW%-.i»fc ' w^m ^ H I 40 Grasses, Clovers, Field Roots, Forage and Fodder Plants. CHAPTER III. PERMANENT PASTURES. Permanent pastures are those which occupy the same soils for a long term of years to the exclusion of all other crops. They may in- clude but one variety of grass or they may be composed of a number of varieties. Many of the pastures of the east tor Instance, contain blue grass only and it would not be Incorrect to designate the unbroken prairie a permanent pasture so long as it remains unbroken. But the term permanent pasture as It Is ordinarily understood, may be defined as a pasture comprising a number of grasses, native and foreign, which have been sown together on a piece of land that Is to be pastured for a term of years. Permanent pastures are more valuable relatively in countries of mild temperatures and moist climates. Where the winters are severe only the hardier varieties can be grown. A large number of varieties therefore, some of which are possessed of great feeding value cannot be grown In these localities. In r«»gions of dry summers, some useful grasses do not make any growth, during the hot and dry portion of the season, and other kinds make but a feeble growth. No variety has yet been discovered which will grow so successfully as when there Is an abundant rainfall in the summer. And if in addition to dry, hot weather during a considerable portion of the summer, the whole season of growth Is short rather than long, the relativ* value of permanent pastures is still further lessened. It follows therefore, first, that permanent pastures will not be so easily maintained, nor will they be so valuable relatively on this con- tinent, as in Great Biitain for instance, where the summers are moist and where there Is a long season of growth. Second, that they will be less easily obtained and of less feeding value In the Northwest than In T ime soils for a They may in- of a number of :e, contain blue : ttie unbroil S I: V 44 Gr assts, Chvtrs, FkU Rocti, Forage and Fodiitr Pfanls, When these pastures > thus laid down In America, whether In the west or In the east, t, , rkh, moist soils should be chosen. They should rest on a clay siibsoll of only moderate texture, that Is to say neither too porous nor too retentive. If the subsoil were too open the pastures would suffer In consequence In dry weather. If It were too close or too retentive they would suffer overmuch In wet weather, in the latter Instance the soil would require to be thoroughly underdralned before It was laid down to permanent pasture. Sharp, sandy and Kravelly soils are not suitable to the maintenance of permanent pastures. They are so deficient In moisture that they do not sustain a vigorous growth of grasses except for a short season in the early spring. When lands arc to be laid down to permanent pasture, It is greatly Important that they should be entirely freed from noxious weed growth, so far as this -an be accomplished without excessive labor. These pastures should then follow the bare fallow, or should come after a hoed or cultivated crop. A crop of mangels, turnips or beans would be more suitable to precede permanent pastures than corn, as the roots of the corn would be seriously In the way o? the cultivation when preparing the ground for the seeds. It Is Important that such lands should contain an abundance of plant food !n order that the grasses may be well sustained the first season. When they enter the first winter In a vigorous and well-rooted state they do not readily succumb to vicissitudes of weather. It the lands are not rich they should be made so, either by applying farm- yard manure or artificial fertilizer When the former Is applied It should be put on In the autumn or winter preceding the sowing of the grasses and Incorpoiated with the surface soil before the seed Is sown. But when thus applied the manure would require to be well decom. posed. If applied fresh It wo>ild be good policy to put It on freely when preparing the ground for the preceding crop. The residuum of It then left In the soil will be in a fine condition for sustaining a qulcl< growth. When artificial fertilizers are used they may be applied In the spring while the land Is being prepared for the grass seeds. A mixed fertilizer would be suitable, that Is one possessed of nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash. The object should be to so apply the fertilizer that it would be incorporated with the surface soil, and yet not be far from the surface- The nitrogeneous portion when applied by itself would be better strewn upon the surface just after the plants appear above the ground. ^m \hr Phnh, , whether hi the e chosen. They 'v, that Is tu sav /ere too open the it were too close her. Ill the latter •drained before It lid Kravelly soils tures. They are (orous growth of ture, It Is Kreatly noxious weed excessive labor, or should come turnips or beans ;s than corn, as \ the cultivation n abundance of ■stained the first I and well-rooted weather. If the applying farm- ler Is applied it le sowing of the leseed Is sown be well decom> ton freely when Iduum of it then a quick growth. ;d In the spring . mixed fertilizer phosphoric add zer that it would From the surface- be better strewn ground. fnmanent Pii.ffurff. 4f When permanent pastures come after field roots the ground does not require any cultivation after tlie roots have been removed, further than that necessiry t' secure a fine surface pulveri/ation the following spring. It will only be needful therefore to cultivate it us soon ns the ground Is dry in the spring, and to follow tlie cultivation with the har. row. In some instances It maybe necessary to '"^^ the harrow only, more especlallv in soil«. a little spongy in texture. loughlng the land in the spring would do harm, In Inlnglng up weed Is from the lower section of the soil which would prove troublesome afterwards, and It would so loosen the soli that the growth of the grasses would be injur- iously affected. If a dry season were to follow. But the pulverization of tlie soil must be fine, for unless ihere Is a minute division In the particles of the surface soli the quick growth of the young plants will be seriously retarded, more particularly those which possess least vigor when they first spring into life. The varieties which compose the mixtures of grasses suitable for permanent pastures in the Northwest, will differ somewhat from those suitable for the same in countries to the eastward. It will therefore be necessary to mention in separate lists the grasses which may compose the mixtures to be sown in the Northwest and also those which may compose the mixtures to be sown In the East. In the Northwest the following varieties, with the respective quan- titles mentioned of each, will be found suitable for sowing per acre: Timothy * pounds. Blue (Jrass 3 pounds. Red Top 2 pounds. Orchard Grass 2 pounds. Meadow Fescue I pound. Tall Oat Grass 1 pound. Meadow Foxtail • pound. Aislke Clover 3 pounds. White Clover 2 pounds. Lucerne 2 pounds. Yellow Clover -1 pound . Total, 22 pounds. When the grower does not wish to hazard the kinds that are In a sense untried, as for Instance, orchard grass, meadow fescue, tall oat I ' I tl. w 46 Grmstrt, Clmtn, FitU Recti, Fomgg and Foditer PlanU, grass anJ meadow foxtail, these may be omitted from the mixture, and the quantities of timothy, blue sixtM, red top and aisike clover li- creased. For states to the eastward of Mlchlnan and for the Provinces of Canada eastward of Lake Huron the mixture may with advnntaKe In- chide the varieties named In the list submitted below, which also con- tains the respective amounts of seed required per acre: Orchard Grass 4 pounds. iWeadow Fescue 3 pounds. Tall Oat Grass 2 pounds. Timothy 2 pounds. Meadow Foxtail 2 pounds. lucerne S pounds, Aisike Clover 3 pounds. White Clover 2 pounds. Yellow Clover I pound. Total, 2( pounds. These quantities are submitted as approximately suitable for aver- age conditions. But it may be advantaKcoiis to vary them on soils which differ in quality. F'or instance, on those with a very moist sub- soil, lucerne would have to be omitted altogether. The omission would then be made good by a corresponding relative Increase In the quantities of aisike and white clover. The seed should be sown in the early spring as soon as the ground Is dry. if sown later there Is great danger that the young plants will perish when the warm, dry weather of summer sets In. It may be sown alone or with a nurse crop. The value of a nurse crop consists in providing shade for the young plants and in some Instances in yielding some return for the ground that same season. Barley and spring rye would probably prove more suitable as nurse crops than other cereals, as the shade which they provide Is less dense, and consequently more favorable to the growth of the young grasses. If nurse crops are used one bushel of seed per acre will be found ample. When the grass seeds nre sown alone they may be all mixed to- gether and then scattered broadcast over the ground. Care should be taken to stir the mixture occasionally, lest the small seeds fall to the bottom of the sowing box and be scattered unequally. Another way Ihr mixture, aiiJ alslk* clover li- the Provinces of h a- thwest the seeds would require to be covered with the harrow. A smoothing harrow or one with many short teeth would well serve the purpose. On the soils of the eastern states and the eastern Provinces of Canada the seed should also get a slight cov ering with the harrow, but In some Instances they would be sufficiently covered by running the roller over the field before rain fell In any con- siderable quantity. When the roller Is thus used the covering will be more complete If It Is driven across rather than along the drill marks If the grasses are sown alone, the mower may require to be run over the field once or twice during the se.ison. to prevent the weeds which may have come up In the grass from seeding. When sown with a nurse crop the grain also should be reaped high rather than low. They should not be pastured the same season In which they are sown .is pasturing would tend to pull out some of the feeble plants and to de- stroy others by trampling them. And if would render them less able to pass through the winter safely. The management of permanent pastures after they have become established. Is not difficult. It Includes the prevention of weeds from maturing their seeds, an occasional harrowing, and it may also Include renovating them. Weed seeds may be prevented from ripening by r jnning the mower over the pastures* once a year or oftener. but usu- ally once a year will be sufficient. A thorouKh harrowing once or twice a year, more especially In conjunction with the application of fer- tilizers has a beneficial Influence upon them. It would need to be glv- en l:i the autumn or the early spring. But the question of renovating permanent pastures will be further discussed under a separate heading. n J: 41 Grmm, Cl^'t n, FUU Rtth, Flmigt tmif^Mir HmU, Th« Konovatlon of PvrmMiMiit P«*tttf««.— The renovitlon i»l pwmanent p4«tiire» may b« of two klnJ». Hlr-»t, It m ly reldtt lo the fo^lrrlng of ■ more abiindunt growth of the graiMS which compose them. Or lecond, It may refer to the re-Introduction of eome varletle*. which, from nme cause or cauaea have partially or wholly dlaappeared from them. Experience In the renovation of permanent pasture* even In the Atlantic States h limited and It Is still more rare to the west- ward. As permanent pastures In this country, of what may be termed artlflclal origin, art as yet law and far between, experience In renovat- Ing them In any sense If almost entirely lacking. What Is s.ild on this question therefore may seem somewhat probtematlcal but It will only be so. In so far as the statements based on general principles mua«« lay be tecureJ In r by all of ther^ 1 light pasturlnR. hat the pasturlnK ten closely aetata wratInK Intluences I Is thus retained IS Is a VA^ l 'erlng of uneaten f winter. Where nd a more rapid [. And the same which has been I therefore greater t deprived of Its mistake therefore I the ground, when ne reason lor the it the pastures, irm-yard manures. I pastures, act as a great In some In- land. V/nen the i'trmaHfHl Patlum, mflltim are iprtldOVirtlltpi^rMwhlia fresh, greater benefits will result than If they ara applied at a lattr stage. Farmyard manures may be applied to grasa lands at any season, but not with equal ad* vantage. If put un when th« pastures are frevh the taint from the manure will rvncJer the grass dittastrtui for a time. If applied when the weather is dry the benefits by way of enrichment are nut at oiict bestowed. There Is probably no season of the year at which manures may be utilized with so much advantage to crass lands as in the win* ter and more partUuiarly the early winter, for when applied early they act as a mulch in protecting the grass from frost. But they may be spread over the ground with benefit any time during the winter even when the snuw Is deep. When the snows melt and the spring rains fall, the soluble parts of the manure are washed into the ground and at once start a vigorous growth, while the bulky portions act ns a m>ilch. An extraordinary growth of i:rass may thus be secured early In the season. In no other way probabiy can farm-yard manures be utilized to better advantage than In the top dressing of pastures In the manner indicated. When the conditions of the pasture in many sec- tions of the Northwe- is taken into consideration, and when In those sections manure is burned or carted away Into rs. SI CHAPTER IV. FORAGE CROPS. No one crop probably, can be found equal to common red clover as an all round forage crop. After clover. It would perhaps not be Incor- rect to name blue grass. But neither of these Is a forage crop In the sense In which the term Is used In this chapter. All grasses are, strictly speaking, forage crops. But these will not be considersd, since the ob- ject aimed at Is to treat only of such forage crops as are sown for the express purpose of furnlsiiing food at a season of the year when succu- lent grasses are not abundant. As forage crops are not often needed while succulent grasses abound, unless where a more or less complete system of soiling is fol- lowed, there is usually no demand for them before the first of July, and in moist seasons they may not be required until a period considerably later. The one exception Is the early soring vvhen the grasses are just beginning to waken Into life, and the only forage crop that can render service at such a time is winter rye. Winter Rye.— Both winter and summ*r rye are frequently sown as forage crops, but the former Is decidedly the superior of the two for the use Indicated, In all sections of the Northwest, and in all the north- ern portions of the United States- It Is superior for the reason first, that it may be sown in the autumn when the press of farm work is not so great; second, that in moist seasons it will furnish pasture In both autumn and sprhig and also a crop of grain when such a crop is wanted; and third, It may be followed by another crop the same season after it has been pastured both in the autumn and In the spring. When a cultivated crop comes after a crop of rye, there Is but little chance for weed life to make any headway or Indeed to survive. Summer rye can only be made to produce forage at a time when some other foods may be better utilized for the same purpose. ii i ! ■ V J >l 52 Cra5J«, C/cvm, /-/^A/ /?gg^. fora^^' a»'i f^^'i'^'r f''^'*''' Winter rve may be made to furnish excellent pasture for sheep and lambs both In the autumn and In the spring, but especially In the early spring. At that season It grows more rapidly than grass, and consequently furnishes forage some- what earlier. And when rye Is then accessible for pasturage, the stock may be kept off the grass pas- tures until the latter have made a good start. When sheep are pastured upon It In the spring. It may be found profitable to divide the field Into two or three sections and to pasture the sheep successively on each In a regular alterna- tion. The rye Is then given a chance to grow up fresh and tender during the ces- sations of the periods of pasturage. It will furnish an excellent pasture for milch cows and other cat- tle, more particularly In the spring. But If pastured by this class of stock. It is more advantageous to have a grass pasture as well, upon which the cat- tle may graze in periods alternating with those dur- ln will also furnish excellent pasture (, both In autumn ng, but more es- in the spring, ould be taken not he rye too closely lutumn, lest It be by the severity winter following. rye Is being pas- should not be al- grow tall before :n, or It will not be 1 by the stock, ase a crop of ma- aln Is wanted the )g must not con- long. The time :h it should cease ry with climate, lo- ind soil, but In the rest it should sel- e continued longer le middle of May, 1 light and poor should cease at a considerably ear- Some of the crops lay follow rye dur- e same season in It has been pas- are as follows— orghum, rape, man- id turnips, e as a forage crop e grown on almost Forage Crops, SS any kind of soil. It will grow In magnificent condition as a pasture on soil so rich that It would not mature in best form a giod crop of grain. But It is more common to sow It upon poor soils for forage, since when pastured, it tends to Improve rather than to impoverish them. Kye is peculiarly the grain crop for light, sandy soils, as it hns much power to search for and take up plant food from the earth. The varieties of winter rye are not so numerous as those of the other cereals. The newer kinds have not yet been able to drive the old and well tried ones out of the field. The ground may be prepared for rye by simply plowing after some grain crop has been removed from It. In the east it may be plowed deeply with advantage, but In the v/est and more especially In prairie soils, it should be plowed lightly, because of different soil and climatic conditions. The time for sowing will depend to a considerable extent on the moisture in the soil. While It Is well to have the ground ready as soon as possible after the harvest season, it will not avail to sow the rye so long as there is not enougK moisture In the soil to cause germination. The lack of moisture would probably cause the seed to spoil, at leas! In some Instances. After the land has been made ready the rye cannot be sown too early when there is sufficient moisture In the soil to germinate the seed. It must be kept from jointing the same season, however, by pasturing it when necessary, or it would be useless for any purpose the following spring. Rye should not be sown so late that the plants have not time to get a firm hold on the soil, or the win- ter may kill them. The seed should be liberally applied. While one and one-half bushels per acre sown with the drill may be an abundant seeding for a grain crop, two and one-half bushels will not be excessive when sown as a forage crop. The reasons are so apparent as to render explanation unnecessary. The seed should be sown with the grain drill when practicable. There does not seem to be any good reason why rye should not be sown to a greater or less extent on every farm in the Northwest on which live stock is numerously kept. It will doubtless come Into great favor as a forage crop In the near future. Nearly all winter rye shows, v/hen harvested, quite a percentage of withered or shrunken kernels, causing considerable loss when 1 ■Jmm i ) I ; 1 M ■■ ii •f I •' 1 if p . 't' r n.> 54 Grasses, Clovers, Field Roots, Forage and Fodder Plants, • w •• ' ~ ' — ' — — — - — - milled or marketed. The Northrup, Braslan, Goodwin Co. have lately Introduced a variety called the "Amber Winter Rye" which seems to be almost entirely free from this objection, the grain being uniformly sound and handsome. Rape Rape Is one of the most useful forage plants that can be grown. As it is comparatively a new plant In nearly all sections of the United States, a description of it may be necessary. In appearance it resembles closely the Swedish or rutabaga varieties of the turnip. But this resemblance applies only to the tops. The roots are fusiform and without bulbs. They are numerous, ramify In all directions, and go down deeply into the soil in search of food. On rich soils and In fa- vorable seasons, the tops reach the height of from two and a half to three feet, and they form a solid mass as it were of foliage from side to side of the field, but more commonly the plants do not grow higher than one and a half feet. Some varieties rather resemble fall than Swedish turnips, but these are not as yet in favor with growers in this country. Rape Is better adapted to moist than to dry climates, and to those of moderate rather than warm temperature. It Is particularly well adapted to the climate of the New England states and Canada from Lake Huron eastward, but Is scarcely so well adapted to that of the west and Northwest, although magnificent crops can be grown in these states under certain conditions. It will probably be less well adapted to the states further to the south, atthough there does not seem to be any good reason why rape should not furnish excellent forage for win- ter use in mild latitudes to the southward. It seems to produce excel lent results in the moist latitudes between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific. Outside of Canada, experience In growing rape on this con- tinent Is not extensive, but there Is good reason to expect that hundreds of thousands of acres of this plant will be grown in the Northern states of the Union In the near future. Rape furnishes fine forage for sheep and lambs, and In great abundance when a good "stand" is obtained. A good, medium crop should yield from 10 to 12 tons per acre. And Its fattening properties are probably twice as good as those of clover. The sheep may be turned in upori It when it is fully grown, that is to say from eight to ten weeks after It has been sown. They should not be put into it when hungry, or they may eat too much at first. It Is safer to turn der Plants. 1 Co. have lately ' which seems to being uniformly ants that can be ill sections of the In appearance it the turnip. But are fusiform and Irectlons, and (;o I soils and in fa- 10 and a half to iage from side to not grow higher semble fail than 1 growers in this :es, and to those particularly well nd Canada from ed to that of the >e grown in these ess well adapted % not seem to be >t forage for win- produce excel lent ountalns and the ape on this con- wet that hundreds e Northern states bs, and In great lod, medium crop ttening properties ie sheep may be ay from eight to ot be put into it t i9 safer to turn Foraffe Crops. 5? them In upon It in the morning after the dew has lifted, and when once turned upon it they may be allowed to remain until the field is eaten off. Or, they may be accustomed to it by degrees, puttinR them on it but a short time at first and then gradually extending the tfme from day to day, until finally they are allowed to remain upon it all the time. DwABr KasEX Rape. {.Brcmlea eampent) is.) The second method Is the safer, but in dry weather it will not be neces- sary probably to take so much trouble. The practice of having an old, grass pasture at hand is a good one. The sheep will eat some of the grass, hence the rape is not so liable to produce undue laxness of the \n i ': ■■■ . 7 -lb 56 CrassfS, C/overs, Field Roots, Forage and Fodder Plants. bowels. An acre of rape should furnish forage for from ten to fifteen sheep for two months. At the end of that time the sheep should be fat enough for ordinary marketing. They do not need any additional grain ration when on the rape, nor do they require water, but they must have access to salt at all times. Rape will also furnish excellent pasture for cattle, but they waste more than sheep by trampling It under foot. There Is some danger of Injury from bloating, with cattle as well as with sheep, when they are put upon It while the leaves are moist from the Influence of dew or rain, and the same precautions are necessary with the former as with the latter when they are first turned In upon It. Many persons prefer to pasture cattle upon rape during a portion of the day only. During the other portion they graze them upon a grase pasture or feed them dry food in the yard or stable. And rape also provides a very suitable pasture for swine. The swine may be put in upon It at any time after It is far enough advanced In growth, and they may be left in upon it, or allowed access to It at will, as may be desired. Some meal or grain fed in addition will no doubt prove profitable. No danger of Injury from excessive eating may be feared with swine, as witli cattle and sheep. Rape may also be cut and fed with much advantage as a soiling crop, that is, a crop cut and fed while yet green and succulent, to live stock. It is particu- larly serviceable when thus fed as a food factor to sheep that are being made ready for the show ring, as a food adjunct for swine, more es- pecially when they are confined to the pens, and also as a food adjunct for milch cows. When fed to milch cows It is safer to feed the rape after rather than before the milking, to avoid the risk of tainting the milk. Rape Is an excellent food for producing an abundant flow of milk. There arc several varieties of rape, some of which arc grown ex- tensively In Europe for their seed. But the only variety hitherto found highly useful as a forage plant Is the Dwarf Essex (Brassica camfies- Iris), sometimes spoken of as English rape. It does not blossom the same season that It Is sown, but bears seed the second season In lati- tudes where the severity of the winter does not kill It. The Dwarf or Essex rape will not, as a rule, survive the winters of the Northern states or of Canada. Those kinds which produce seed the same season they are sown have not been found profitable as forage crops. Rape Is adapted to all soils suitable for growing a good crop of tur- tm I I iiiniwi riVr Plants, m ten to fifteen eep should be fat additional grain , but they must !, but they waste > some danger of p, when they arc uence of dew or e former as with ly persons prefer ly only. During ire or feed them for swine. The mough advanced ed access to it at addition will no excessive eating Rape may also )p, that is, a crop :l<. It is particu- ep that are being swine, more es- as a food adjunct • to feed the rape k of tainting the ant flow of milk. :h arc grown ex- ty hitherto found Brassica campts- % not blossom the nd season In lati- , The Dwarf or of the Northern the same season e crops, good crop of tur- Foragf CroPf, ?7 nips, that is to say, It will grow well on good, moist loams of free tex- ture. But it will also yield abiinJji\t crops on some soils not well suited to the growth of turnips, as tor instance the muck soils found In swamps. It requires soils rich in vegetable matter. Rape will grow well on all prairie soils that are rich natiirilly or made so. But It will not produce good crops on light sands until they are first enriched, nor will it give good <;rops ordinarily on stiff clays. The preparation of tlie soil for rape, the time of sowing the seed, the amount of seed required and the cultivation needed, will depend to some extent on the object for which it Is grown, and also to a consid- erable degree on the place given to It In the rotation. But the place assigned it in the rotation is also modified by the object for which it is grown. When rape Is grown as a cleaning crop, as well as to produce forage. It should be sown in raised drills in the east, but In rows on the level in the west, so that it may be cultivated. Where It Is the only crop grown upon the land during the same season, the preparation of the soil and the mode of sowing the seed will be essentially the same as in growing a crop of turnips, described In Chapter VI., in treating of field roots, but a less amount of rape seed will suffice. When alt the soil conditions are right It Is not necessary to sow more than from one to two pounds of rape seed per acre with drill culture. The cultivation may also be the same as for turnips, with the difference that the rape does not of necessity require to be thinned like turnips when a reasonable amount of seeci has been used. A long period Is thus secured for re- moving noxious weeds and weed seeds from the upper section of the soil. Owing to the late season at which the rape is sown, the ground may be made measurably clean before the crop is put into the soil, When thus grown the seed may be best sown in the east from about the middle of June until the middle of July, but in some in- stances it may be sown later than the date mentioned. In the west and Northwest a somewhat later period would seem to be preferable, when there Is sufficient moisture In the soil to start the rape growing. When rape is sown early In the spring a rapid growth may be secured for a time, but as the hot weather of early summer comes on it loses its bloom. The color fades to a pale green or a yellow, and some of the (eaves become crisp and dead. It has been claimed that when rape sown thus early is eaten off before arrested development Is noticeable, the crop will grow freely again, and the claim may be just, but experl- %i Grantifs, Clovers, Field fiooU, Forage and Fodder Plants. ence on this point Is as yet too limited In the Northwest to follow It as a safe %\i\i\t. When rape comes after a crop of rye which has been pastured, It may be grown as a cleanInK crop and to produce fnraKe, or simply for the latter purpose. If sown as a cleanlnK crop It should be ^rown In drills, or when the land Is not rich the same mode of culture should be adopted to stimulate growth. But where the soil Is rich and the one object Is to grow forage, it Is then sown broadcast and covered with a light harrow. When rape Is thus grown, from three to six pounds of seeil per acre are used. Where rape is grown as a catch crop and for forage uses, it is sown variously, sometimes af?!ig with cereal grains in the spring. When thus sown, about two pounds ot seed per acre are used. In some in- stances it will not grow to give any profitable return. In other Instances It will grow, but not so as to hinder development in the grain crop, and after the tatter has been cut. It will come on and furnish a goodly amount of forage. And in yet other Instances It will grow so rapidly as to damage the grain crop which has nursed It, so that discrimination must be used as to the soils on whk d crop of grain he land should lis method has it should bring if acres of rape, some cereal or jw wheat, rye, my one of the ing with some ids It will need suit will follow rop may be ob- Foragt Crofis, M And at vet other times rape Is sown In a crop of standing corn, Just before the lae thus e for sheep at a dlKtessing.that west are admir- re all that could ures. The only )ns which relate ig the late sum- :, therefore, that §0r»g* Cr*^, 61 much attention should be given to the growth of forage crops to carry the sheep on Into the winter In a good condlllon of Ihrllt. There seems to be no gmid reason why sheep should not be grown In greatly In- creased numbers and of the finest quality. It would, of course, be ne<- fssarv to Improve the breeding of th« theep M • -'I as to Improve the autumn forage. KAmB UORM Kaffir Corn.— There does not appear to be any good reason why Kaffir corn should not b» successfully grown as a forage crop. It Is of JM M Graitti, C/Mtn, Fitld Rooh. Forant ami FotUhr /Vii/»/i. r \ f r Si 't I ■ Itafv habll of urowth .mj alto bulky, henct It provldM a lar|« amount of cxctllant looJ. It Mem« b«»i aJaptrJ tn warm latlt'jjft and ha« th« power of hotJInu out aK;iln«t the InllueiKcs of drouKht In a m.irk««l deRf • K I** bcconilnic qtilte popular aa a MllinK and fodder pKint tfj Kansas and other places, but e«»t>crlence In pa»turlni{ It teem* to be wanllnjt. When grown at a loraue crop It may be sown and managad In about the same manner at corn that (s grown for a similar use. The mode of growing corn as forage has already been given In the present chapter. When grown for soiling or fodder uses It should be put In drills and cultivated In the tame way as corn grown for the •llu or for fodder. See Chapter V., where It treats of corn. JSRIISALIM COHN JertuMilein Corn.— Jerusalem corn, like Kaffir corn, described above, Is growing In favor. It may b« termed a sort of dwarfish sof JM Ur Hanh. jrovldn A large rm UIK-jiJrt anj of drouKht In a tllInK and (odder iftvirltiK It Mcm< ay b« suwn and iwn for a similar ly been given In er uses It should ri) grovwn for the orn. ^V^^Pf C^l^n AI V corn, described o( dwarliiii) sor* ghum, at It doe* nut usually reach the height of more than three or four feet But It does not possess ih« saaharlne qiulitles of sor(( reference to it seems to be entirely wanting. Mut, reas- vAv^^r 64 Grassfs, Clovers, Field Roots, Forage ami Fodder Plants, oning from Reneral principles, there seems to be sufficient cause to ex- pect that larKe areas of sorghum will yet be grown to provide forage for sheep. It would be well probably to turn the sheep In on the sorghum after It had reached the height of from one to X^fo feet above the sur- face of the ground. Eahly MiNNxsoTi. SnoAR Oanx or Sohgbdm. It is somewhat surprising that sorghum has not been more largely grown in the Northwest for foraga, soiling and fodder purposes, when -«3C- bMMa ulder Plants, Relent cause to ex- provide forage for In on the sorRhum 'eet above the sur- \ \ \ i lUM. 3een more largely r purposes, when Forage Crops, 65 Its excellence for these uses Is considered. It ^ true that Its value In furnishing pasture Is somewhat problematical, since experience is a most enth-ely wanting on this point. But substantial reasons may be given for the belief that It will yet be very extensively grown as pas- ture for sheep and probably also for cattle. First, It is a quicl< growing plant after It has once made a good start. Second, It is a deep and a firm rooted plant, and hence not easily displaced in the soil. Third It has the power of growing in dry weather in a marked degree; and, fourth, It is pre-eminently M^ forage plant for growing up quickly again after It has been eaten off. But It Is also probable that much care would have to be exercised when pasturing it, lest the animals should suffer more or less from bloating. As to the value of sorghum as a soiling crop, there need not be any doubt. The readiness with which it springs up when cut off pre- em nently adapts it to soiling uses. In some latitudes two or three cut ings may be obtained. It would assuredly furnish a large yield on a given acreage of productive soil. And its value as a fodder crop has also been proved, though prob- ably not to any great extent in the Northwest. When thus used It may be sown with a grain drill, as for forage. It should be allowed to reach an advanced stage of growth before It is cut where the frost does not come too early. If frozen before it has been cut Its feeding value is seriously Injured. When cut it should be allowed to He on the ground In the hot sun for several days, until It Is at least partially cured. Should rain fall on It when thus strewn over the ground, it will not t3ke serious harm, as would corn under like circumstances. It may then be thrown Into heaps, larger or smaller according as the sorghum Is more or less succulent. On the arrival of cool weather It does not spoil when In heaps or coils, as would corn. It Is drawn from the heaps and fed as wanted. Immense areas of sorghum will doubtless be thus grown for fodder In the Northwest in the near future. Sweet CoraL-Sweet corn may be profitably grown as a forage crop for swIne. The mode of preparing the ground, the time of plant- ing the seed and the cultivation suitable for the crop are similar to the method given of raising corn chiefly for the grain which it produces. See Chapter V., under head of Corn. This crop Is ready to be fed to swine as soon as the com In the ear Has reached the milk stage, or even at a period somewhat earlier, and ■ '^-*^*-« if i.J t ^ 66 Grasses, Clovers, Field Roots, Forage and Fodder Plants. feeding it may be continued until it Is so far matured that ttie swine wiii no longer consume any considerable pro|)f>rtion of tlie stall{. If the corn is planted at intervals the season for feeding may be made to extend over several weeks. When sweet corn Is thus fed to swine It Is commoniy carted to them and fed only as a portion of the ration. To turn them In upon the crop is considered wasteful. It furnishes an excellent food adjunct when given along with grain. If any of the crop remains after it has become too far matured to be fed as indicated, It may be cut and cured for winter fodder. Mangels.— Mangels may be made to provide an excellent forage crop for swine, and also for sheep. The method of growing them would be the same as described in Chapter VI, under the head which treats of mangels. There would not be the same necessity for thinning them with so much care as when grown for winter use, hence the labor of producing the crop would be materially lessened. A large quantity of food per acre could thus be furnished. When the pastures were dried and possibly bare, It would be a grand thing for a flock of sheep to have access to a crop of mangels. The economical plan would be to allow them to feed upon one portion of the crop until It was eaten clean, and then to give them access to another portion, and again to another, until the whole crop was consumed. And it would be well to so arrange that ail the mangels should be eaten before the season of frost becomes sufficiently severe to bring serious harm to the mangels. Swine also should be allowed access to the mangels, and much after the same plan as suggested above for pasturing with sheep, But t^ey would require some grain or meal in addition to the mangels, more especially it they were soon to be fattened for the market. But with swine It would probably be the better plan where small lots only are kept, to cart the mangels to them and feed them along with other food in suitable quantities, large or small, as occasion may require. By sowing the seed early, a portion of the crop should be ready for depasturing not later than the middle or end of August, hence the crop might be made to render good service in the manner indicated, for a period of at least two months. Pall Turnips.— Fall turnips. In an even greater degree than man gels, can be m^de to serve an excellent purpose in providing forage foi sheep, and at a less outlay for labor than mangels. But on the other fder Plants. !d that the swine of the stalk. If may be made to nmoniy carted to rn them in upon lent food adjunct nalns after it has be cut and cured I excellent forage 3f growing them r the head which ssity for thinning r use, hence the issened. A large ^hen the pastures ing for a floci{ of micai plan would until It was eaten ion, and again to would be well to fore the season of 1 to the mangels. Is, and much after sheep, But t^ey le mangels, more larkel. But with lotsonly are kept, /Ith other food in quire. lould be ready for st, hence the crop r indicated, for a degree than man }vidlng forage foi But on the other ForageCropi. f^ ttm wMr^'''"'T " °^"* '" some degree by the greater certainty f^ cnl^ a cropof mangels may be grown. When the season comes IL spro"u'lig! "'' *'' ''^ weather oftentimes hinders the S .,„«„\"'"'1' ^l ^™\''^* ^°'^8» ""^y •"= sown upon the bare fallow or uTon thTba'r". f.1 f" ''t\ ""'T '^°'^*'" ^'^'^ '''' P'^'"^*'- ^hen raTsed ine of tSe ?ir' T' "^^ T.^""''^ "" '"^"«««'J P^«^'o"« to the sow- ing of the turnips. In much the same manner as though It were to be an? Wh'"'' ? '/'"""''' '" ''''^""« w'^'' »"« methods o7growing \T\ ^^" '^'f^ "P°" "breaking," the land would need to be har rowed before and after sowing the seed. The seed would be scattered broadcast, and at the rate of from three to six pounds to the acre iSe Augul'""^ '^°""' "''"'* ^™"' """"' -^"'y ''' """' "^^ '"''^'''« «' No further labor Is necessary after the crop has been sown until It is ready for being depastured. The sheep may be put upon the turnips n W ren favo^abr/''' ""^ ^''"'"^ "^'"'^^ whTthe Jondi fons have been favorable for a good growth. The sheep should have access V^r Z K 1!' *° '""" *'*"*'■ '*'"'' °^ ^°«^' « « «^3ss pasture for"n ?:rs croi'xSaptr V? "^"" ''' ''''- '^-« ''-''' -"^ «'-- «,.«,f *'!'"''*f •~^''"^^''*' "" ''* K'OW" "'"h much advantage as a late summer or autumn food for live stock, in nearly all parts of fhe Norfh croo slnL mZ* ^ "^'■f P™P"'y ^"""'"^ ^ s°"'"K than a fodder triSlv slakf ";' '?;r''* '" ^''l ^'^'^ ^^"'^ '' ^^'^w- And it is not hlf^!- ♦k'^ ^.^ '°"'"« "''P' *'"« 't 's allowed to reach maturity sills, from five to seven tons per acre may be secured with ordinary good management and in a normal season. "Quinary gooa Many varieties of squashes may be grown, but those which hav.. a^e^tfSltre"?he BoT' ?'^' f "^^ ^"'^ ^'''^^ ^rowToIgotd s'" are preferable. The Boston Favorite is among the more suitable varie- Field squashes, and Indeed any kind of squashes, grow best in tSls'wh^n f?"'f **'''^"" '"^ '''' ^'" «'-^- a'dm'frably Iar« amonnt nf H ''"'" ' ^^P^^^^undance of water, owing to the large amount of humus or vegetabJe matter which they contain Squashes will grow well on what may be termed good rkh W ..bil— 68 Cr asset, Cloiiirs, Field Roots, Forage and Fodder Plants. soils. It Is useless to plant them on poor soils with the expectation at the same time of getting a good crop. The preparation of the soil for a crop of field squashes Is essentially the same as for a crop of corn, see Chapter V. But there Is this dif- ference. On soils that are not leechy the ground should be marked off both ways In the autumn by drawing lines over It with some kind of marker at intervals of eight feet. At the points of intersection two or three shovelfuls of earth are taken out and laid aside, A good large forkful or more of well fermented farmyard manure Is put into the cavity made, and the earth which was removed Is put back In place. To preserve the exact spot where the lines Intersect, it may be well to use small pegs or stakes placed upright In the ground. On leechy soils, the marking out of the ground and the application of the manure had better be delayed until the spring. The ground should be har- rowed occasionally In the spring until the squash seeds are planted. B08TOX Fatobitb Squash. The planting of the seed should be deferred until the soil is warm and all danger from spring frosts is past. The time of planting, therefore, may commence during the latter part of May, and can be ex- tended well on into the month of June. The seeds may be put into the soil with tr.e hand corn planter, and care should be taken to cluster them around the spot enriched with the manure. In other words the hills should be In straight lines which do not extend widely, for the sake of convenience In the after cultiva- tion. From six to eight or ten plants may be put Into a hill, to make ture that there will be no blanks, but before the plants crowd each , r Plants. sxpectation at sis essentially re Is this dif- be marl On leecliy of ttie manure lould be liar* ire planted. s soil is warm : of planting, ind can be ex- corn planter, enriclied with ;ht lines which after cultiva* hill, tc make 9 crowd each Forage Cr ops. 59 other In the hill, they should all be removed but three or four of the strongest ones. From three to four pounds of seed per acre will be sufficient. Cultivation should begin soon after the seed has been planted, to keep down all weed growth. It should be shallow and frequent until It is hindered by the vines running over the soil. Some hand hoeing will probably be needed around the hiiis. When ready for feeding the squashes are carted to the feeding place. Although excellent for milch cows, it is more common to feed them to swine. They are at once a nutritious and palatable food. When fed to swine that are being fattened, they should only form a moderate proportion of the whole ration. They are especially valuable when fed to pigs confined to a forcing ration of corn, because of the favorable in- fluence which they exert upon digestion. xxtv. '^'"''^ squashes may also be grown along with a crop of corn. When thus grown, planting them in the corn is usually deferred until the corn has been harrowed, which should take place soon after it ap- pears above ground. If planted as early as the corn, the squash vines would probably interfere with the cultivation of the corn. A crop of squashes grown In this way Is therefore later than when it is the sole crop on the ground, and the squashes are of a smaller size. Pumpkins.- Pumpkins may be grown after the same manner as squashes, and they may be devoted to the same uses, but pumpkins are more in favor as a food for milch cows than for swine. It is more common also to grow the pumpkins along with torn, or even with potatoes. But the frequent harrowings now recommended for both corn and potatoes will certainly tend to discourage the effort to grow them along with either of these crops. When an orchard has reached that stage in which It Is thought prudetjt to cease growing cereals upon it, and at the same time it is con- sidered advisable to stir the soil in the same to agreateror lesser extent during the spring and early summer, a crop of pumpkins or squashes may be grown with manifest advantage. The shade of the orchard is probably helpful to the crops named, and these in turn protect the soil so as to keep it more moist than it would otherwise be. Pe«.— Field peas may be grown a a forage crop, particularly for swine. If pastured by other kinds live stock much of the crop would be wasted. It would be trodden down and soiled, hence the *- - 70 Grassfs, Ctovtrt^ FUURttU, Forage and Fodder Plants. soiled portions would be left uneaten by sheep and cattle; but with swine the waste of food will not be nearly so great. This crop Is peculiarly adapted to temperate climates, humid rather than dry in character, and cool rather than very hot In the summer. It will grow readily in nearly all parts of the Northwest, but in the south- ern portion of the Northwestern states lying along the Canadian boun- dary, average yields may not be looked for, equal to those in the northern portion of the same states, or on the Canadian side of the line, although In some seasons good crops may be secured further south than the northern tier of states. Hot winds are very hurtful to the yield of grain from peas, if they pass over the crop when it Is In blossom. The pea crop therefore may In some instances be made •nore profitable as a soiling crop or fodder ciop than when grown for the grain. Of this crop there are many varieties. When grown as forage for swine, those kinds which give good yields of grain should be pre- ferred. When they are grown as a soiling crop or for fodder uses, choice should be made of those kinds which produce large quan- tities of straw, but not of too coarse a character. Peas will grow on nearly all classes of land free from stagnant water, but not equally well. They flourish on lands essentially clay ill texture, as such soils usually have a plentiful supply of available potash, On light sands they do not produc- straw plentifully, and on humus soils, with an excess of plant food, they grow an abundance of straw, with a corresponding deficiency In the yield of grain. This crop, like clover, has the power of taking nitrogen from the air, hence It is not an exhaustive crop on the land. To produce forage, peas may be sown early or late, and indeed for any purpose they may be thus sown, but, notwithstanding, it would be easily possible to delay the sowing season so long that only re- duced yields could be looked for. It would perhaps not be prudent ordinarily to defer the sowing of peas longer thanthe middle of May. When sown as a food for swine tlie season of depasturing may be pro- longed by planting the peas at intervals, that is, by sowing one part of the crop early, a second portion about two weeks later, and a third por- tion about two weeks later than the second. The method of preparing the ground for a crop of peas is the same as for other cereals. The seed should be sown with the grain drill. 'er Plants, cattle; but with !s, humid rather he summer. It ut in the south- iJanadian boun- to those in the lian side of the secured further very hurtful to }p when it is in lances be made vhen grown for vn as forage for should be pre- for fodder uses, ice large quan- e from stagnant essentially clay )ly of available ntifully, and on n abundance of ain. This crop, air, hence it is and indeed for nding, it would ig that only re- not be prudent middle of May. ng may be pro- ving one part of md a third por- eas is the same the grain drill, I Foragt Crops, 71 and It should go down deeply Into the soil. When a grain drill is not available, the peas may be sown broadcast over the land and then ploughed In to the depth of four inches. The land should then be smoothed with a light harrow. If again harrowed a few days after the ,Al \ ''. Ml //''-...-Ik, "usem X., B., O. Co.'s OBAKOIIU.OB Field Pia. peas have been sown, and while the sprouts are yet some distance be- low the surface of the ground, the growth of the weeds will be checked and that of the peas will be strengthened. The amount of seed required will be the same as though the peas "■■ 72 Grasses. Clovers, Field Roots, Forage and Fodder Plants. were to be raised for the gruln. It will vary with the variety sown and also with the character of the soil. When the small varieties are used, two bushels of seed per acre will sufTice, but with the largest sorts three bushels and even a greater quantity may be used. Less produc- tive soils require more seed than those more fertile. Peas are ready for being pastured when they have reached that stage which renders them fit for table use. It Is considered best not to allow the swine access to tlie whole of the crop at once, but rather to restrict them to one portion until that Is eaten, and then give them access to another part. When the peas are matured, the gleaning of the swine may continue until all the crop has been gathered, although some persons are opposed to the further gleaning of the swine after the peas have matured, as then this mode of harvesting them is wasteful of the straw. The season during which peas may be thus used as a forage crop Is not a very long one. Barley and Oat».— Barley and oats, grown togethep, furnish ex- cellent pasture for swine at a season of the year when blue grass has passed the succulent stage. The mixed crop of these two varieties of grain will grow on any soil suitable for producing one or the other of them. The preparation of the soil Is the same as though they were grown for the matured grain, that is to say, the ground sho'iid be ploughed In the autumn when practicable. The seed is first mixed before being sown. The proportion of three parts barley to one part of oats will be found suitable. From nine to twelve pecks of the mix- ture may be sown. The aim should be to put h the seed with the drill. The crop is ready for pasturing when It is sufficiently grown to almost hide the ground. It should be cropped off before any Indica- tions of earing manifest themselves. If allowed to reach the earing stage the forage would be less relished by the swine and further growth from the root would practically cease. When a part of the crop Is sown early and another part at a later stage, the season of depasturing is prolonged. Barley and oats thus grown together make an excellent substitute for clover where the latter has failed to grow or where It can not be depended upon to produce a successful crop, as In latitudes north of the clover belt. Mixed Qralnt.— The different cereals may l>e mixed and sown together to provide food for live stock. When thus giown they may ier Plants, 'arlety sown and arlttles are used, he largest sorts d. Less produc- ve reached that lered best not to ice, but rather to I then give them the gleaning of thered, although e swine after the them is wasteful thus used as a the», furnish ex> I blue grass has \ two varieties of ! or the other of lough they were ound sho'ild be ed is first mixed ariey to one part ecl other kinds of g food for bheep and lambs, and they may also be used with advantage In feeding swine. In nearly all parts of the New England states and Canada this crop can W. grown with much success, but In some sectlnni of the west and Northwest the warm winds that occasionally visl' those regions «rt hurtful to the vetches. In other seasons they will grow very well. One peck of oats and from two to three pecks of vetches per n< re will furnish an abundant seeding, The seed may be sown with the grain drill as soon as the '.veather has become settled In tli<> spring, and .igaln at an Interval of two or three weeks. Th« oats are wanted rather to sustain the vetches from falling to the earth than to provide food for the sheep, but they will be e,iten In part by the sheep, although these animals show a decided preference for the vetches. As soon as the vetches reach the blos«omlng stage the feeding ^ay commence. Oats M\ii wheat, or oats, peas and wheat, make an excellent toll- ing I ip. The cost of the seed should be considered In determining the relative amounts of each to use In the mixture. Krom two and a half to thrre bushels per acre may be sown of the wtiole mixture. When it >.on&lsts of oats and wheat equal proportions of each can be used. When It consUts of the three cereals named, equal proportions of oats and wheat may be used, and half the quantity of peas. In other words, the oats, wheat and vetches would be mixed In the pro- portion of two, two and one. These grains are mixed before being sown, and should be put Into the ground to a fair depth to keep the peas from being uncovered by the w.ishing of fdin which may follow. Like the mixtures for soiling previously mentloncJ, they should be sown early, and again at an Interval of two or three weeks where pro- longed feeding Is wanted. The feeding of he crop should commence as soon as the heads of the oats and wheat begin to appear. -l/ i^MMb 76 Gy*tl»§, Clwtrt, FUM ^«wA. F«r»f» atjit FotUtr PlaHtt, CHAPTER V. POUUiiK CHOPS. 1; The production of fodder crops will no doubt form an Important fuctor In the farming of the Northwest. In the near future. The need for this el«M of crops Is not v*t so apparent as It will be In the days th«t are at hand, owing to the abundant supply of wild hay available In all the more newly settled portions of the country. When the lands which yield wild hay come to be cultivated, a substitute for the crcp which now grows upon them will be required. This substlftile will bf found In part In cultivated hay, but more probably In fodder crcips, owing to the marked adaptability of the conditions of growth In al| this western country to the production of these crops. In growing fod der crops there Is not the same liability to occasional failure In the germination of the seed, as In growing crops of hay. Some of them, for Instance corn, when once firmly rooted In the soil, possess great power to withstand the vicissitudes arising from dry weather. Corn.— Sometime In the future, possibly .»t an early date, the corn crop will doubtless stand first If. importance amonR all the fodder crops then grown In the Northwest, hay even not excepted. In some sections of the area named corn may not as yet prove a reliable crop when raised mainly for the grain which It produces. But when grown purci> as a fodder crop there are but few sections capable of tillage which may not be made to produce It In good form. At one time It was thought Impossible to grow corn with safety further north than Minneapolis. Now good crops are regularly grown a hundred miles further north and the northern limit fixed upon for Its production is constantly reeding from the equator. Excellent corn of the Mercer variety was harvested the present year at Buxton, Traill County, North Dakota, situated Jha '^tM/r t'amti. form an Important future. The need III be In the dnys vlld hav available . When the lands (titute tor the crop s sub«tlt(ite wdl be y In fodder crll, possess great weather, ^arly date, the corn ill the fodder crops . In some sections ellabie crop when vhen grown purci> tillage which may ie it was thouglit than Minneapolis. s further north and instantly receding !ty WIS harvested Dakota, situated F»Mirer$Pt. •bout Italf way between the forty-stventh and for*) '«:ghth parallels of latUude, and it n ii^ierous other polnl.i in that state. When a crop of matured corn can even nc*/ be oMalned thus far noiih, wc have reason t«> hop* that varietit* w'll yet b« procured, whicli under a proper ty»> tern of cultivation will mature thf crop with consldeta^-!c certainty Ihrough'iut the r^tglont along the southern boundary of Manitoba and A«i>lulbola. And ai corn caii be grown for fod.Vr, and more partlcu* larly for St)ll ng, mu h further to th<> north than for gralti, we can con- fidently anticipate that tor thewe purpoHS It will become a regular P'-oducI of the Canadian Northwest. Benefits )*.her than the food product obtained wuukt he derived from the general growth of corn. In ihe first place If p'operly rared for It wt old greatly assist In the cleaning of the land. But on the oiher lianU If the cultivation were neglected It would prove a most effective iiirdluii. for th? n;ese varieties are also Included In some one of the afore- mentioned cl.-isses, but frequently In the second or the last named. Fourth, the r>weet varieties, so called from the saccharine nature of the corn and also of the stnlk. Nearly all the kinds grown In the garden belong to this class, hy.i it Includes some sorts suitable only for field culture. The V .r'etics of com best adapted to the Northwest when grain only Is wanted, or even wlK^n grain and fodder combined are soufc.it, Include the Squaw, Mercer, Smut Nose, Minnesota King, Dakota Dent, #■ ill I:; 78 Grasses, Clovers, Field Roots, Forage and Fodder Plants, Pride of the North, Huron, Rustler and Mastadon. The Squaw ccn, a white flint variety, which stands first In point of earliness, and hence is grown further to the north than any other, Is dwarf- ish In character, and therefore not a satisfactory i more rapidly than others. But even though the soil should be warm, It is unsafe to plant corn until the season has become so far advanced that th« young^ plants are not liable to b« cut down by frosts. When thuscut iiiii»<»'ir.i«i»iiii«ii . mm. odder Plants. I the soil will then ore suitable fertil> his fertilizer to ap- soils rich In vege- moderate dressing, fitted by an appli- from IS to 20 or* lould be to plough chance to decay, lent and abundant :e In leechy soils, be washed down uld escape |p the 1 the winter to land quite early In the to not seem to be untry, but in the lurial resources of y utilized, it will ilzers. But even ;e which are near rofit. The nature conditions, though would prove suit' /hich contains ail th< viz: nitrogen, e climate, locality, f the corn. It can e until the ground to 5t° Fahrenheit, ined by burying a :ed, and leaving it light sands, warm ;hould be warm. It • far advanced that ts. Whenthuscut down they will come up again, but the results are not likely to prove so satisfactory In the end, as with corn planted late enough to escape spring frosts. In the Northern states east of Michigan, and Canada east of Lake Huron the normal season for planting corn ranges from May lOth to June 5th. In Southern Wisconsin, Southern Minnesota, and South Dakota, the snme dates would probably cover the most favorable season for planting. But for some uses, soiling for in- stance, corn may be planted later than the dates named. In Northern Wisconsin, Northern Minnesota, North Dakota and Manitoba, the normal season for planting will be found near the end of May. The germlnative power of corn is easily Injured, even after It has been put Into the soil, hence, when seed of the first quality has been planted before the ground has become sufficiently warm, the germinating power of the seed Is liable to be much impaired, If indeed not wholly des- troyed. And where the Injury to the seed Is only partial, the growth of the young plants will be feeble and delicate. Similar results will ensue when corn is planted on soils sufficiently warm. If the seed time Is followed by a long period of cold, raw weather. It Is more ju- dicious, therefore, to delay planting corn for uses other than selling In the early market, until there is a strong probability that It will come up quickly after it has been planted, and make rapid p.ogress. Seed corn should be tested by the seedsman, and also by the grower, before It Is planted. And It Is not enough to be assured that the corn will grow. The character of the germination Is quite as Im- portant as the power to germinate. When seed has been carelessly selected and improperly kept, every kernel may be possessed of the power to germinate, and yet the germination will be so delicate that the young plants cannot make vigorous growth until the time arrives when they are wholly dependent upon the soil for sustenance. The ultimate full development of the corn may thus be seriously hindered. It should always be tested by the grower, even though previously tested by the seedsman, as It may In some Instances oe :, hand, or with that i\»sn ^y horses, tx it may be sown with the r rdinary grain .-,-.». irotvaAnfMrtHi .^MMi •r I H r I* 'i ii 84 (brasses. Clovers, field Rooti, Forage and Fodder Planis. drill, in the absence of machinery, the first method will have to be adopted. Hand planting In either of Its forms Is more commonly re- stricted to the planting of corn grown on small areas, and in Instances where grain production is sought rather than fodder. But in the ab- sence of machinery for planting, corn may be sown by hand, for soil- ing and fodder uses. When It Is thus sown, shallow drills are first opened with tiie plough, and the corn is strung along these by the hand In a string like row. A harrow driven across Uie drills may be used in covering the corn. When corn is grown chiefly for grain. It has been usual to plant it in hills equally distant from one another in the line of the row. and also between the rows. Where hand planting Is a necessity, the ground is first marle less wide and more shallow. Ordinarily it may be continued until the corn is beginning to tassel freely, but in very dry seasons the crop may receive much benefit by extending the period of shallow cultiva- tion considerably longer. The benefit will be apparent not only In the marked increase In the yield of grain, but In the prolonged greenness and fuller development of the stalk. Level cultivation will be found most advantageous. The practice all too common of ridging the corn when the last cultivation is given to it affords a good opportunity for numerous weed seeds to spring Into life, leads to rapid surface evapo ration from atmospheric influences, and is hurtful to the crop In other ways. Where due attention has been paid to the growth and manage* ment of corn as regards careful cultivation bat little hand hoeing may be necessary, and in some instances none may be required. But it should be an inviolable rule with the good farmer not to permit weed seeds to mature In any cultivated crop. The stage at which the corn can be harvested will depend upon the>use to be made of the crop. When it Is to be fed as a soiling crop to sheep the feeding may commence before the tasseling season. If It Is to be fed as a soiling crop to cattle, the feeding had better be de* fcrred until the corn is in tassel, and it may then be continued until the crop is matured. When the corn is to be fed as a soiling crop to swine It Is common to allow it to reach the milk stage on the ear before com- mencing to feed It, but It may be utilized with advantage at an earlier period where the necessity arises tor »o doing. When the crop Is In- "-j" --,,, >*ii^ I*- ijk dder Phnts, hould be light of with a backward Iructed as to cover not only tends to II to retain ground iterlally promotes ! plants have be- the harrow upon vated as often as The cultivation lan in light soils. :o the line of the advances shouM « continued until seasons the crop f shallow cultiva> nt not only In the •longed greenness on will be found ridging the corn d opportunity for id surface evapo the crop in other iwth and manage- land hoeing may required. But it t to permit weed n\\\ depend upon I fed as a soiling tasseling season. : had better be de- ontinued until the ling crop to swine le ear before com- itage at an earlier len the crop is in- Crofii. 87 tended for winter fodder the corn in the ear should be matured before the cutting takes place. It would be preferable to harvf it the corn when not quite ripe rather than when too mature, as thrn the stalks would be relished much better by the stock. If corn is to t>e placed In the silo It should be cut when the ears have reached the roasting stage. When cut short of this period the ensilage will not be so sweet nor will Its feeding value be as great. When cut after the period Indicated some difficulty may be found In keeping ensilage free from dry mould. Where the crop Is to be husked It should be fully matured before being harvested. When the season of full maturity Is pass.:.! the loss in feeding value of the fodder begins at once. In case the corn has been seriously Injured by frost further maturing will be arrested, hence no good can come from delay In cutting the crop. Proriding frosted corn Is cut at once and put Into the silo,! is thought that It receives bat little injury from having been frozen. Various methods of harvesting corn have been adopted. Some- times it Is cut by hand with the corn hook. This method of cutting has been more commonly resorted to than any other. Oftentimes it Is cut with a sled with adjustable knives attached to the sides of the same and drawn by a horse. Two men stand upon it and catch the corn while it is falling and lay it off In sheaves. One or two rows can be cut at a time, as desired. In other Instances corn Is harvested with a binder, but the machines thus utilized have not yet been so perfected as to do uniformly good work. Should the corn be wanted for the grain or the winter fodder, it is put into shocks or stooks as soon as cut. Sometimes it is first bound into sheaves. These may be tied with twine, with rye straw or with the stalks of corn. But more cummonly the corn is stood up with the aid of a •• horse," that Is to say. with the aid of a pole about twelve feet long, with legs so placed under one end as to raise it up about one- half the height of the corn, or not quite so high. A small rod, such as a broom handle, for Instance, runs through the pole not far from the elevated end. The corn is stood in the four corners or four angles thus formed, with an Inclination of the tops to one another. These cone-llke shocks are then bound near the tips once or twice with twine, rye or corn. The dryer the climate and the mora mature the corn the larger may these shocks be made. When the corn Is husked In the field the straw of two or more of these shocks Is put together in one, for r Croats, Chvtn, Fltld Rostt, Feragt and Fodder Piantt, » »; I'll *■%. better protection against adverse wsather, be It over dry or over wet. The practice has been common heretofore, In corn-growing sections of the west and Northwest, to snap off the ears from the -.talk and throw them Into the box of w wagon, systematically driven through the flekd, and then to leave the fodder or stover In the field, to be ploughed under after It has been eaten in part by the cattle, This plan, IhouK^ economical of labor, U wasteful of fodder, and in time will probably be abandoned. That recent invention ktiown as a shredding machine will llki'lv soon be made to husk much of the corn raised in the near future, and It is more than probable that it will be also much used when preparing the stover for teeding. In the meantime, how- ever, the good old-fashioned way ot hosking the corn in the field from the stook^ and then tying the stover In slieaves Is likely to be con- tinued for sonic lime to come, when but small quantities arc grown. No better place can be found for storing the corn itself than a corn crib; that Is to .tay, a buHJIng ihe wail of which have small spaces or openings between the boards which form the wails, and even the floor of the same. There Is then opportunity for a suftkient current of air to pass through the corn all the time to prevent It from moulding, even when put Into the crib in a fresh state. If corn be piled up on a floor, or deposited In a deep bin In the autumn, it is sure to mould In a greater or less degree The question of the value of storing corn 'w the silo, as compared with curing i. In the field, has been much discussed. Entire agree- ment of opinion need not be looked for, since it is largely a question of conditions. In climates where rains are frequent In the autumn or winter, and in which deep snows or storms are not uncommon. It •hould be the aim to cure corn in the silo. Under all conditions It Is probably the most economical method of curing corn when fed In a large way. But the necessity for silos is not so much felt in regions of light precipitation at that season when the cut corn fodder Is exposed. It Is very convenient to feed corn from the silo, and no mode of storing it under cover is so economical of room. Sfios will doubtless become much more common in the Northwest than they are at present. No method of keeping corn fodder'frtom the time of harvesting until required for feeding purposes, is superior, all things considered, to that of leaving it in the field until desired for use, and then drawing It to the feeding place. The mode of conveyance will vary with the dis- J, adUSrr PUmtt. f r dry or over wet. n-growing section! from th« i^talk nnd Hy driven thtouKh In the field, to be I cattle. This plan, , and In lime will >wn as a shredding ' the corn raised In t wltl be also much le meantime, how- rn In the field from I likely to be con* [ities Arc grown. I Itself than a corn ive smalt spaces or and even the floor !nt current of air to m moulding, even )lled up on a floor, ure to mould In a ! silo, as compared led. Entire agree* rgeiy a question of in the autumn or not uncommon, It all conditions It Is orn when fed In a :h felt In regions of fodder Is exposed, no mode of storing doubtless become at present, of harvesting until considered, to that then drawing It to vary with the dls- €W^ tanca wMch It will have to be drawn, and the way in which it will require to, b« fed. The sled, the stone boat, the chain m^h t'"i« ws^on will ;(il render excellent service In lonveying corn un Jer t-rtam condl* tions. When corn Is put In the silo. It Is common to run • through a ^ ut- tlng bo "4, driven by stean or horse power. If the corn ha'i reached the roasting stage, it mn- be put Into the sil.> at (ince. Where not so far advanctd, It may be allowed to wilt before putting it Into the sllo, and the degree of the wilting should be in proportion to the greenness of the corn. When the corn can be drawn to the silu with low tri-cks and a platform cover or ratk, the labor o» loading it is much lessened. The corn is spread evenly in the silo, and Is tr«mpied by the person who spreads It, partlcuLirly around the sides, and most of all In the comer*. To cover the whole ground relating to corn and the ^lio would require a large volume on this subject alone. Mlil«t — Millet, like corn. Is a child of the sun, hence when It once gets a good start. It can stand drought tnd heat fairly well. It seems peculiarly adaptetl to prairie countries, and yields large crops of palatable and nutritious food. It may be sown In a sense as a catch crop, and af a season of the year when labor Is not so pressing on the farm as at some other times. The time therefore, Is nat likely to come when millet will cease to be a prominent fodder crop In Minnesota. Millet furnishes an excellent food for feeding In the gr^en state; that Is, on the soiling principle. It makes excellent winter fodder for horses, milch cows and other cattle, also for sheep. If cut and fed at the right stage, and when at the same time it Is properly cured. But if allowed to become over-ripe, it soon gets woody and consequently un- palatable, and when dried too much in the sun while being cured, Its feeding value Is greatly Impaired. The seed furnishes good food for ail kinds of livestock if judiciously fed, but when the crop Is allowed to ripen, the feeding \ ilue of the straw or fodder portion Is very much lessened. The idea has gained currency, that if millet be fed freely and continuously for a long period, Impaired digestion may arise In consequence, and that there Is danger of the urinary organs being affected adversely. But these results are not likely to follow when the millet has been properly harvested, and when at the same time It Is only fed as one factor of the food ration. It Is of several varieties, and prominent among those suitable for I :| ) ! 1 •* li Hi •III i It- ■> I 90 Gnuut, Clown, FItU Jtttti, Ffm/t mtd FnUtr PiMtt. th« NorthWMl art lh« Mtotowl or Common mllitt, Garman mllitt, Hungarian grats. GolJcn Wonder millet, and Broom Corn millet. Tha Common millet grows much seed, but does not yield so much fodder, nor to valuable as some of the other varieties. Tha Carman millet grow* stronRly and Is o( a leafy habit of Rrowth, hence It pro- vides most exiellent fodder. And It may be mentioned here In pass- ing, that where tha seed sown Is of southern growth, the best yields of fodder may b« expected. Hungarian gra'S, much akin to the (ierman millet In Its habits of growth, has seeds of a dark shade. The Golden Wonder millet Is very productive of seed. The heads ara uncommonly long and heavy. Because of the large yields of seed that may Da obUlned from this variety, it is becoming a favorite when seed Is tha chief object sought And since It will ripen further to "he north than corn, it may in some respects be used as a substitute for that king of fodder plants. Broom Corn millet, or Hog mlliat, for it Is known by both names, has also been found an excellent substitute for corn In sections where the latter will not ripen. But it may also be grown profitably in many corn growing sections. It bears a close resemblance to broom corn while It is growing, henca probably the origin of the name. It is raised more for the seed than some of the other varieties of millet, but some- times it is raised for fodder only. When grown for thesaed It should be harvested with the binder. The seed stands In high favor as a food for swine in those sections of the west where It has been tried. IMIIiet requires a soli rich in vegetable matter and of free texture. Loams, whether of a clay or sandy character, will produce millet abundantly. Dark prairie soils grow It admirably, and muck soils capable of proper cultivation at the right season will yield very heavy crop*. Clays and sands grow It shyly, the former because of their ad- hesiveness and the latter because of their porous character. Millet may be sown In the Northwest any time after the corn-planting season has arrived. If sown in^the early spring while the ground Is cold and the seuon Is also cold, it will not do so well as when sown later. The season for sowing millet may be prolonged until well on into the summer, so long as the soil contains enough moisture to sustain growth. At least from sixty to seventy-five days are required to bring millet to that stage when it will make a full crop of fodder. It Is very easily Injured by autumn frosts. J n I ■ mm r Carman mlltat, m Corn millet, t yield so niuch i. Tha Gartnan th, hence It pro* eJ here In past* \e bc«t ylcIJa ■>' I to the (ierman de. eed. The heads (e yields o( Med a (avorlta when en further to 'he I a substitute for by both names, sections whera jfltably in many ! to broom corn ime. It Is raised illlet. but some- seed It should be favor as a food en tried, of free texture. I produce millet and muck soils leld very heavy ause of their ad- cter. Millet may titing season has J Is cold and the 'n later. ntll well on Into Isture to sustain equired to bring Jder, It Is very — .1 ..iiMl i»- .^. ^. ^v^."^^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) ^^/ a:^ > ^ %/^yj f: 1.0 I.I 1.25 Photographic Sciences Corporation 25 M 2.0 1.8 i-4 111.6 \ (V ■1>^ \\ ^9> V ■<«*>^ 6^ ^ ^^'■ms ^ 23 W£S^ 'W.N STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 873-4503 %^2 Mts.^-itffr-.'.fKm^ »-^ -J f/j ^ <\ . 6^ U CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques . W- ._. HP .^^m ^^^"" 0iw(AxMiu.m HVVQAHUtl' «p 92 Grasses, Clovers, Field Roots, Forage and Fodder Plants. When millet Is the only crop grown on the soli during the sea- son the ground may be prepared in a similar way as for a crop of corn. The more frequently the ground Is stirred In the spring before the millet is sown the cleaner and better the crop is liime more bulky food ition should therefore wing grains singly or wisdom of threshing r .teMhl 94 > Grasses, Clovtrs, Field Roots, Forage an d Fodder Plants. grain and then gTinding it before feeding it to live stoci< is ceitainly to be questioned when even better resuits may be looked for from feeding It in the straw. It is at least probable that In the near future much of the grain grown as food for live stock will be thus fed. Some farmers who have learned from their experience that in many instances greater yields may be obtained from growing grains In combination rather than singly have abandoned the practice, because they have found it difTi- cuit to separate the varieties after they were threshed. But why desire to separate them if they can be fed to live stock? When the grain Is wanted without admixture cereals should never be grown In com- bination. ' All varieties of cereals are not equally adapted to the production of fodder. The best kinds to choose are those distinguished by a vigor- ous growth, which produce straw of a fine rather than coarse character and which are amply possessed of the stooling quality. Happily those varieties found best adapted to the production of grain are also those generally found most suitable for growth as fodder. Some of the cereals which have been found best suited to the conditions of the Northwest will now be given. The leading kinds of spring wheat Include the Saskatchewan Fife, the Velvet Chaff Blue Stem and the Plllsbury. The first mentioned variety Is too well known to require further description. The second is a bald wheat with white chaff, distinguished by a blue shade below the head before It ripens, hence the origin of the name. This variety Is hardy, rugged and considerably more productive than the Fife. Originally it was from five to six days later than the latter In ripening. But through long continued and rareful selection, some strain? of this variety have been obtained possessed of all the good qualities of the Fife, and which ripen quite as early and yield much more abundantly. The third Is a selection from the Fife and Is the best type of the Hard Fife wheat Among the leading varieties of oats are the Lincoln, the Negro Wonder, the White Russian, the Early Archangel and the Golden Giant Side oats. The Lincoln oat was introduced to the Northwest- ern public by the Northrup, Braslan, Goodwin Co., In 189i The yields obtained have been very large and in some instances extra- ordinarily so. It ripens early, stands up well, has a thin hull and is said to be rust proof. The Negro Wonder is a gray oat, characterized .teM* dder Plants. toik Is ceitalnly to •d for (roin fcfdlng ear future much of !d. Some farmers y Instances greater Inatlon rather than [lave found It diffi- 1. But why desire Vhen the grain is be grown In com> the production of lished by a vlgor- in coarse character quality. Happily of grain are also dder. Some of the conditions of the Saskatchewan Fife, he first mentioned tlon. The second 1 blue shade below me. This variety Ive than the Fife. e latter in ripening, lome strain? rf this lod qualities of the ti more abundantly. it type of the Hard -incoln, the Negro el and the Golden to the Northwest- :o., In 1893. The ne instances extra- a thin hull and is r oat, characterized Fodder CroPt. M by early maturity, stiffness of straw and good stooling qualities. The White Russian, though an old variety, is still popular where the seed can be obtained in Its purity. The Early Archangel, Introduced from iiussia, Is a very early kind and Is better adapted to light soils than some of the other sorts. The Golden Giant Is a side oat, which pro- duces a long head and yields abundantly, but Is somewhat late in ripening. The leading varieties of peas comprise the Chancellor, Golden Vine, Crown, Prussian Blue, White Marrowfat and the Black Eyed Marrowfat. The Chancellor Is an early and productive variety, well adapted for the Northwest. The Golden Vine and the Crown are well tried varieties whlcTi have given satisfaction to the growers. The Prussian Blue grows vigorously and yields an abundant crop. The White and the Black Eyed Marrowfats are very large and hardy vari- eties, the straws of which are strong and coarse. The kinds of barley which stand high in favor include the Man> sury or Mensury, the Highland Chief and the Improved Black. The Mansury, a six rowed barley, Is one of the most vigorous and largest yielding varieties now grown, and was originally imported from Asia. The Highland Chief Is a two rowed sort. The kernel of the grain Is unusually plump and large and it Is claimed that it does not discolor so easily as some other kinds. The Improved Black barley is one of the most useful kinds that can be grown for feeding purposes, and it weighs as heavily as wheat. Whether cereals are grown for the grain or for fodder uses, the mode of preparing the soil will be essentially the same. The object aimed at in either case should be to adopt a rotation that will keep the ground as free from weeds as possible, to plough It In the autumn rather than in the spring, to plough shallow rather than deep and to sow with the grain drill rather than broadcast. OaU.— The oat crop may be grown with much success as a fodder crop throughout all the Northwest. In dry sections where a "stand" of grass cannot be readily obtained it has been thought preferable by some farmers to grow oats instead, and to feed them in the straw either in the cut or uncut form. If raised for the use Indicated It Is Important that they should be harvested at that stage which will secure the maximum feeding value In both straw and grain, and in order to ac. compllsh this, it will be necessary to cut the crop when a little under- ^■Mi 96 Gra:s*s, Clovtrs, FUU Roots, Foragt ami FodiUr Plants. ripe. The crop may be cut with the mower and curej In the same way as hay, or It may be harvested with the binder and cured In the shock. When oats are cured thus, they furnish excellent fodder for horses, milch cows and other cattle, and also for sheep. Those varieties will be found the most suitable which do not lodRe readily, which are pos- sessed of good stooling properties, and which also yield a fair amount of straw, fine rather than coarse In quality. Two bushels of seed per acre may be required when the drill Is used, and in some instances a larger quantity. 0«t«and Wheat.— Oats and wheat grown together furnish an excellent winter fodder for cattle. When used as a food for live stock there Is probably no other way In which It can be grown more cheaply or fed with so much profit. The Northwest Is proverbially a wheat raising country, hence there Is much propriety In making wheat one factor of a fodder crop. Wheat and oats may be grown together with great success and considerably larger yields can be obtained from the combined crop, than from either grown separately. This -Top can be conveniently harvested with the binder. Two bushels of seed may De used in sowing with the drill. The proportions may be varied In order to secure the result desired by the grower. Oata and Pmu.— Oats and peas when sown together furnish an excellent winter food, more especially for cattle that are being fattened, for milch cows and for sheep. The directions g'.ven in Chapter IV In growing peas and oats as a soiling crop will also be found equally ap- plicable in growing them for winter fodder. But If desired for the lat- ter use the crop is not ready for harvesting at so early a stage. The best time for cutting is when the grain reaches the doufrh state. The feeding value of the crop has then nearly attained Its maximum, the straw Is palatable and there is but little loss from shelling. The binder can be used advantageously when harvesting this crop but It can also be harvested In the same manner as native hay. OaU, Pcaa and Wheat.— This crop provides an admirable fod- der for live stock. The variety not only adds to the yield obtained, but It also gives an additional feeding value to the crop. It may be harvested with the binder. When the seed Is sown with the drill, about two and a half bushels may be used per acre. The proportions of the seed In the mixture may be two parts each of oats and wheat and one part of peas. .teMh red In the same way cured In the shock, t (odder for horses, rhose varieties will Illy, which are pes- yield a fair amount bushels of seed per In some Instances a together furnish an I food for live stock ;rown more cheaply roverbially a wheat maklnfc wheat one ;rown together with e obtained from the . This ':rop can be hels of seed may De ly be varied In order together furnish an t are being fattened, in In Chapter IV In e found equally ap- desired for the lat- Early a stage. The ! dou^h state. The I its maximum, the helling. The binder crop but it can also I an admirable fod- the yield obtained, )e crop. It may be sown with the drill, e. The proportions of oats and wheat /VvAA-r Crofm, W The EvtrUkitXnt Pea. [tathyrw: ^yhunlrh Wagnrri) Is also known as the llat pci anJ It has been but recently introduced Into North AiniTlca. It Is rapidly K.ilnlnK f.ivor in Europe, particularly in (lermany where Professor Wagner has Kiven much attention to its lmprovi>mi'nt during late years. It Is commonly mentioned as a forage plant, but It la probable that In the dry ciirvate of the Northwest it will prove more satisfactory when grown to furnish fodder rather than for- age. Close cropping by live stock In the early part of the season may certainly be expected to hinder Its growth in the area referred to. But In the more moist sections of the continent It will doubtless serve for either forage or fodder uses. Experience in growing it In America Is as T tirassfs, CV(nvrf, /■'»>/«/ AW/.f, Fora^^ ««nijtrr >iHi/ /-'ihMfr PliiMh, •xplorcr, Maxlmowli/., tit th« twth. It ptiihes rnpMly onwarJ durlriK the wasw\ of veKctotlon, anJ when not chrtUrJ by culling It off, U (nptible of attalnlriK the helulit of nrvcral frrt In a slnifle Jiiim- in«r. Iti root* raJlate from a centre anJ extend »o quickly that In a •InKle year It l« aaltl they will occupy the toll over a raJltin of three feet. The rootsfock« are poMetieJ of numermtH biiJ», whUh throw up fresh Mrm« at they extend. It l if.«i|.| VVIn-n «?>>*!! In strips In scttinns where the skII \% llaM* to blow, It may be made to render excellent ecrvke In (htck< Init the sweep of the wlrult. And It has been J timed that a flnK of •unflowers around a farm, when the pi inti In it »tand closely totffther, will form .in effective barrier against Invasion from the Kusslan thistle, a* It Koes tumbling over the prairie. The usu-tl time of plantinu thesunllower In the Northwest Is durln« the latter p.irt of May, but the seed can be sown even some weeks later, when there Is enough moisture In the soli fo d*vciop yrowtl ."he seed may be sown with the grain drill and the rows made from thirty to Mammoth Ui'mmian Hri(Pi/>wKn. forty-two Inches apart, to suit the attendant conditions. The distance of the plants in the line of the row may also bw varied. The averajjc distance will probably be found somewhere between six and twelve Inches. Cultivation between the rows sliould commence as soon as the young plants clearly mark the line of the row. When the cultiva- tion given Is frequent and prolonged, the yield of the crop will be greatly Improved. No iiand hoeing is required, other than to remove the weeds which, if left, would mature. Although the high feeding value of the sunflower Is unquestioned, and although it Is now certain that very large yields may be reaped . '. w .- Ji*fci!a..j -!«*«».■ is»,r- itffT'.^ »'^ j 1 02 Grasses, Clovers, Field Roots, Foraj^e and Fodder Plants. i ■;! \< 1 {ft pei' acre, there Is still much to be learned regarJlnj; the best modes of harvesting the crop and also of feeding It. Harvesting Hay.— The loss arising from the unseasonable and Improper harvesting of hay is In the a^'gregate very great. And this loss Is even greater possibly in the Northwest than In some other por- tions of the U ted States; for the reason, first, that In many sections the wild hay crop is SiiU very abundant, and second, the fine weather which prevails under normal conditions In the hay-making season, has a tendency to foster carelessness In the curing and handling of the hay. The best time to harvest hay will depend on the nature and kinds of the grasses of which it Is composed, on the state of the weather, and on th« use for which It Is Intended. With regard to the proper time at which grasses and clovers should be cut. It would be impossible to give a general rule that would apply equally to alt the varieties. Some kinds ought to reach a more advanced stage than others before they are cut, and for certain uses the same varieties need to be cut at different periods oi maturity. The best general rule to follow Is to mow the hay when the prevailing grasses of which It Is composed are In full bloom. There may be good reasons why cutting the grass should be deferred until a period somewhat too advanced for making It Into hay of the best quality, for over-ripe hay well cured is certainly more valuable than hay cut at the proper season anH then spoiled or partially spoiled because of adverse weather while being cured. Nevertheless the aim should be at all times to secure to the greatest possible extent the high- est feeding value in the hay. The advantages which result from cutting hay at an early rather than a late stage of growth Include the following:— First, the differ- ence in the avidity with which live stock eat hay cut at the proper stage, and the same variety left uncut until It becomes woody, is simi- lar to the difference between eating with a keen relish and eating be- cause compelled to by hunger. Second, when grass is thus harvested and fed to milch cows It furnishes milk more freely than if It were ripe'. And here a question of much Importance arises, not simply because of the bearing It has upon the profits of the dairy, but because of the in- timate bearing which It has upon the development of all kinds of young stock. Third, It prepares clover for being fed to horses, not only without Injury but with great advantage. It Is when clover has been cut over-ripe or has been Imperfectly cured that It becomes trans- ■•|l Foddrr Plants. ; the best modes of e unseasonable and ry great. And this 1 In some other por- at In many sections id, the fine weather •making season, has handling of the hay. le nature and kinds ! of the weather, and I to the proper time lid be Impossible to the varieties. Some others before they are J be cut at different )w Is to mow the hay ;d are in full bloom. ; should be deferred ^ it Into hay of the ainly more valuable I or partially spoiled 'Nevertheless the aim sible extent the high- y at an early rather ig:— First, the dlffer- ly cut at the proper imes woody. Is slmi- elish and eating be- iss Is thus harvested y than if it were ripe. )t simply because of t because of the in- Tient of all kinds of H; fed to horses, not is when clover has lat it becomes trans- -mA. Fodder Crofm. 103 formed Into a ration which Is hurtful to the horse. Fourth, there Is no loss from the shedding of leaves or seeds or from the heads break- ing off. Strip clover and lucerne of the leaves and heads, and they are shorn of their great strength. Fifth, with some varieties of clover it enables an extra cutting to be obtained. For some kinds of feeding the second crop of clover for the season is nearly as valuable as the first. A delay of one week in the cutting of the first crop may. In some seasons, make the difference between success and failure in the second crop. And these remarks apply equally when the second crop Is allowed to mature seed. Sixth, it gives opportunity for an in- creased growth of the aftermath. A strong aftermath Is valuable whether to furnish food, to mulch the ground as a protection against drought, or to shield the roots of the grass from the frosts of winter. The object In curing hay should be to prevent exposure to dew and rain, and also to shield It from the unnecessary injury which follows when left lyin^? too long beneath the burning rays of the sun. Rain falling upon hay while It is being made discolors it, and the extent of the discoloration is in proportion to the advancement of the stage of curing. Rain also washes out a part of the starch and other soluble matters, including a considerable proportion of the ash ingredients, so that it Is rendered Intrinsically less valuable for feeding purposes, apart from the loss of palatability occasioned by the absence of the aroma when hay is wet during the process of curing. Dews and fogs act sim- ilarly, but less In degree. Undue exposure to sunlight fades the hay and causes many of the leaves to become so crisp that they break off There is probably greater loss from allowing hay to become overdry through undue exposure to sunlight than from the combined influences of rain, dew and fog. Whether hay should be cured In the cock or coil, as it is some- times called, depends upon the grasses which compose it, the degree of the ripeness of these grasses and the state of the weather. The va- rious kinds of clover, when grown alone and cut in early bloom, can- not properly be cured with ease without having first been put up Into those coils, or, as they may be termed, miniature stacks. But for har- vesting in dry weather clover can be cured In winrows, and this can be done more particularly in the climate of the Northwest, which is proverbial for Its excellent harvest weather. The grasses prope. can be readily cured In good weather without putting them up Into coils. T ^^'•^•^■■v. n''mimtttmi*m am tm«»Kamau .TeimKm»^-ssiii»^* 104 Grasses, Clovers, Field Roots, Forage ami Fodder Plants, . :1 V* Numerous methods of makinR hay have been adopted. In fact variation In method Is an absolute necessity to suit varying conditions. Of these the followlnR are the chief: First, mow the hay In the morn- ing, run ihe tedder over it near mid-day, ralon it. } admirably adapted igar beets and carrots, 'he argument which )rn and roots respec- if corn, Is not a sufTr }een able to give us lan he has been able indoubtedly stood in imes to be more prac- the basement of the Field Roots. 107 buildings erected to shelter the stoci<. Where the temperature gets low, and when the roots are protected simply by a stone wail laid In mortar, provision should be made for an air space between the roots and the wall. When the wail of one side of the basement Is built against a bank of earth, the roots may be stored in an excavation made in the bank, but not far distant from the place where they are to be fed. They may also be stored by digging an oblong trench In the ground! where the natural drainage is good, and piling the roots In the same so as to rise above the surface of the ground like the ridge of the roof. They are then covered plentifully with straw. A light covering of earth is put on at first, more Is added later when the weather becomes colder, and still later fresh manure Is put over the earth. The chief objections to this mode of storage arise from the additional labor in handling which it necessitates and the difficulty In using the roots In cold weather. Mangel*.— Mangels furnish an excellent food for nearly all kinds of live stock, such as cattle, sheep, swine and fowls, but they are es- pecially valued as a food for milch cows, as they may be freely fed to them without the danger of giving a taint to the milk. Mangels are of several varieties. These are distinguished by their color, as red, orange and yellow, and by their shape, as oblong and globular, and by variations intermediate between these. They are usually referred to as being of the long. Intermediate or globe varieties. The former generally give the largest yields, but the latter as a rule are of a higher feeding value. The principal varieties of mangels grown in the Northwest are the Mammoth Long Red and the Golden Tankard. The former yields heavily. The latter, an Intermediate variety, will probably equal the former In weight of produce, and in quality It Is superior. It is tankard in shape, the outer flesh Is of a beautiful yellow color and It Is remark- ably clean and smooth. When cut open It shows alternate yellow and white rings. The Mammoth Golden Giant, also an Intermediate vari- ety, is of great promise. It is larger In size than any of the other yel. low mangels, and Is easily lifted from the ground. The red and yellow globe shaped varieties are also sold In considerable quantities. They !»re admirably adapted to the soil and climatic conditions of large i?reas in the Northwest. They will grow luxuriantly on all deep soils ri: I - rrganic matter. Clay loams, strong sandy loams and dark .1 I 108 Grasxcs, Cfoi'crs, FiMRttts, Forat^e and Fodder Plants. ii! 'I «!l ■ 4 I prairie soils are specially adapted to the growth of mangels, wiillc stiff clays and light sands have less of adaptability. in preparing the soli for man- gels it should be ploughed deeply in the autumn and as early as possible after harvest. In damp seasons it should then be harrow- ed occasionally until the advent of winter, to get the weed seeds out of the upper section of the soil so far as this may be practica- ble. In dry sea- allow It to remain OoiiDEN Tankard Manoku sons the use of the harrow would not ac- complish the de- sired end. In the Northwest.when farm yard ma- nure isapplled.it should be spread upon the land before it has l>een plowed, but in the east it will probably be found safer to spread the ma- nure on the sur- face of light, por- ous soilSi and to there undisturbed until the winter Is past. In the FoiUfr Plants. mangels, wliile stiff sons the use of the harrow would not ac- complish the de- sired end. In the Northwest.when farm yard ma- nure Is applied, it should be spread upon the land before It has been plowed, but In the east it will probably be found safer to spread the ma- nure on the sur- face of light, por- ous soilSt and to Inter Is past. In the sprlriK the K<'ound thus plowed tiie previous season will only require surface cultivation until tlie mauKels are sown. When mangels are sown late In tiie season the manure may be spread over the Kround in the winter and then turned under in the spring, but the labor of clean- ing the crop will be much greater than when they are grown by the former method. Where artificial fertilizers are wanted, salt and su- perphosphate may be used, at the rate per acre of 200 pounds and upwards of the former, and 100 pounds and upwards of the latter. In the east it has been found advantageous to grow mangels and other field roots in raised drills formed by using a double moid-board plow with a mari, Lanu's Imperial and ts, the excellence of will now be said with Mng them for the pro- loams, mild sands or le, provldlnif they are ly moderately porous, more especially when ended In them. Stiff :ist suitable, more es- ter or contain alkaline t will produce a good jitable cultivation, be esoll for manReiswIII ;ar beets. The varla- Sometimes barnyard manurtt are applied alone. Sometimes, and more especially in the cast, only artlflcLii fcrtlli/frs are used, and tometlinrs both are uMd In conjuiutlon. Manure from hortes Is good, that from cattle Is medium, but maiuire from sheep U not frioJ. When farm-yard manure In used it should be well fermented a;id should ba applied in the autumn pre' viousiy. It would b« safer even to use the nuiuite with the previous crop. For instance, when barley precedes the beet crop the manure should be ap- ^^- JL - ^'S ^Hh^'lyJ^ potuih because plledbeforest)W- ^gsapt SSgM iBgMHlifcl^ "> the influence hiK the barley. ^SSSES^^SUtm^^ ^^'^^ t^'V **' it then hastlme '-•^ ^SKK^S^ *'* upon the to become well ^i^^^D^^Bi^^ quality of the mixed witii the *li|^A^ ^Hh ^**^*' ''''""P'^"' soil and is lest ^^Bm H^a^^ ''*" ■'^''^ """y ^ liable to produce a rank H^k Inconveniently applied as su- growth of the beets, which V^^ Wperphosphate or basic slag, would result in a decreased Wk WW ""^ *< tl)« rote of one hun- percentage of sugar in the ^^ 7 W ^^'c*^ Pounds and upwards per crop. Artificial fertillzcis are ^L j|r acre. P<)tash may be conven- applled In the form of nitro- jW} g lently applied In the form of gen, phosphoric acid and pot- jWf Kainlte and in similar quan- ash, and sometimes, but less 'M§ titles, frequently, as magnesia and 1 1 The seed should be sown lime. While it Is Important li\ as soon as the ground Is dry that there should be enough Iv in the spring, but, at with of .iltrogen in the soli to pro- Q ' mangels, it would be possl- duce a maximum crop, it is ^ ble. In exceptional instances, even more important that „ „ _ <, oo.'. to sow It so early that the there should be a plentiful champion young plants would be In- suppiyof phosphoric acid and ■"••"*"*• Jured by the frost. It would be unwise to sow the seed late in the neason, for, even though a maximum crop in weight should be obtained, there would not be time for the crop to ripen properly, hence It would be markedly defl- dent in saccharine properties. Where sugar beets are grown on a large scale, as for sugar factories the seed ts sown with machines made for the purpose. They plant several rows at a time. The rows are on the level, and there Is no need for having them wider apart than from fifteen to eighteen Inches. Not less f 1 I U G^mti*!, Vlmtrt^Hthl RtH>h, Farajc* •"*>/ h'^Wr fUmU. th«n tlirht p.Hind. ..» ittd srt used per atrs. and !n sMint Imttsncn •¥#« « larger quantity It town. Th« M««l rtqulrtt to b« covf >< I to « JtpUi varying from ont-half an Inch to (our or flvt tlmrt thai dlaUiKt. nwlng to a dlffartni:* In aollt, In toll conilillont and conjltlona of cl. nata. And th« Mtne l« true In dr«fee of all kind* -if lh« i. I« of llrld nxita. Ai a rule th«y may b« mora detply burled In tl . v , and North weat than In lh« •••tern part of th« continent, and alio In pralrla and sandy •oils than In stiff clays. Cultivation with the horse hoe, or. as It Is more commonly termed, the cultivator, should begin as soon as the young plants distinctly mark th« tine of the row. As with maniieh It should b< di-fp at first •nd shallower and narrower as the season advantr*. and stioiild \^ as frequent as once a weel^ for Irom six to fight weeki from the time that It began. If It were to be continued longer the beefs would be encouroijed to continue to grow, hence what It termed saccharlflcatlon or sugar- forming In the roots would be hindered. This process is active In the later stages of the growth of the root. Slowdivelopment and com- pleted development are favorable to It, hence dry and moderately warm weather Is desirable during what may be termed the ripening period of th« betta. Particular care should be taken during the cultivation not to Injure the beets or their tops. The thinning may begin as soon as the plants have acquired four leaves. They may be thinned from seven to ten Inches according as the rows are near to each other or more distant. It Is Important to save strong planU at the risk of varying the distances somewhat. The hand hoe should of course be used In the line of the row In conjunction with the thinning, and the aim should be to keep the whole of the root covered throughout the season, as any portion exposed above ground Is practically valueless for sugar-making uses. It Is not desirable to have the roots weigh mor o - m one to oneand-a-balf pounds each, h nee the advantage In hnvinj-; rlu planted dor ly -tnd In having no blanks so far as this mr ' *> > ^ 1, The beets are ready .u. ./^.ing harvested as soon as a considerable proportion of the leaves die, while tliose which remain turn to a yel- lowlsh-fereen and some of them show Indications of dr(K)rliiK. Har- vesting should be deferred as long as possible without unduly hazard- ing them to Injury from frosts. When grown for the sugar factory they are first loosened by an >« covtit I loa v)«piA > that dl«'hers, Field Roots, Forage and Fodder Plants. % »> M be exercised in feeding turnips to pregnant ewes In winter. A'though opinions differ on this question, it is probably true, that while a llRht ration as one or two pounds per day may prove highly beneficial to the class of stock narned, a heavy ration would be harmful to the well- being of the lambs. But turnips, like all the other classes of field roots, are most excellent for producing a large flow of milk, and like these also are very helpful in keeping the system in tone The climates best adapted to turnips are those of a moist and cool character. They do not so well withstand the heat of summer as other varieties of field roots. Usually the principal growth made by turnips is in the autumn, when the weather Is moist and cool. Hot winds are seriously hurtful to them. While turnips grow admirably In the New England states and moderately -a eil in the northern states further to the west, there is some doubt as to whether equally certain results may be looked for from this crop In the Northwestern states. This doubt Is strengthened by the fact that the weather is oftentimes so dry at the proper season for sowing turnips that germination of the seed cannot be secured. It does not follow, however, that excellent crops may not be raised over all the Northwest y i suitable soils and in favorable sea- sons. But the same absolute dependence cannotbe placed in the turnip crop as In mangels, sugar Hets and carrots. Those portions of the Northwest which get the largest amount of rainfall in summer will grow the best crops of turnips. The soils best suited to the growth of turnips are those of a free- working, loamy character. They should be deep, free from stagnant water and susceptible to minute division. Turnip soils, therefore re- quire a fair proportion of sand in them, and yet not so much as will render them poor. Good crops of turnips may be grown on stiff clay soils, in favorable seasons, but at an undue expenditure of labor. Muck soils and those even which have an excess of vegetable matter are not favorable to the growth of turnips, as they produce an excessive growth In the tops, with a corresponding deficiency of growth in the bulb por- tion of the root. Turnips are distinguished by differences in their habits of growth, as for Instance variations in shape, size and color. Commonly tuey are in shape what may be termed a globular oblong, and this Is true more particularly of the Swedish varieties. Some of the Fall varieties are of a peculiarly flattish shape. They are further distinguished oy '•'odder Plants. winter. A'thouf^h that while a light hly beneficial to the armful to the well- classes of field roots. Ilk, and like these of a moist and cool of summer as other 'th made by turnips ool. Hot winds are mirably in the New ;rn states further to certain results may ates. This doubt Is times so dry at the of the seed cannot J lent crops may not id in favorable sea- placed in the turnip lose portions of ths 'all In summer will are those of a free- free from stagnant soils, therefore re- not so much as will gtown on stiff clay ture of labor. Muck table matter are not in excessive growth ^th in the bulb por- ir habits of growth, r. Commonly tiey ig, and this is true jf the Fall varieties er distinguished oy Field RootSf 117 earliness and lateness in maturing and also by their chemical compo- sition. The number of varieties is now very great and it is continually Increaslni;. N., B., G. Co. '8 PllIZE WlNNKR T-UTA BAQA. In the Northwest the Swedish, that is to say, the rutabaga varie- ties, are at present by far the most popular, and In all probability they will remain so. Of these the kinds most in favor are the Purple Top, 118 Grasses, Clovers, Field Roots, Foraf^e and Fodder Plants. \ii. Yellow Fleshed Rounded varieties, of whicii there are many strains. They aie nearly identical in form, in color and in other qualities. The N., B., G. Co.'s Prize Winner is an excellent form of this typt. Car- ter's Hardy Swede and Skirving's Swede, similar in shape and color are both good. The Monarch Swede, Llephant or Tankard, as it is known by each of those names, has been recent- ly introduced from England, and Is gaining favor wherever grown. It usu- ally attains a larger size than any of the varie- ties previously named, and it is thought will yield more to the acre. The Sweet German, a well known and pop- ular sort, has flesh remarka- bly sweet and tender. Among the leading fall varieties may be named the Jer- sey Navet, the PurpleTop Strap Leaf, White Flat Dutch " Strap Leaf, Red Globe Norfolk and White Norfolk. The prepara- tion of the soil re- quired for a crop of turnips is vir- tually the same as for a crop of mangels, with the difference, however, that the application of tiie manure may be deferred until the winter season In all in- stances where it is so desired. When the ma- nure is thus ap- plied, however, the ground would require plowing again in the spring. The aim both in the autumn and in the spring Monarch Hcta Baoa. should ^ J to clean the land from noxious weeds and weed seeds, so fai as this may be possible, and it is best accomplished by stirring the land frequently more or less deeply as occasion may require. The proper preparation of the land for a turnip crop will be found peculiarly l l ll MK WIW Hil l lWni Fodder Plants. re are many strains, other qualities. Thn 1 of this typt. Car- ir In shape and color or Tankard, as it is Leaf, Red Globe Norfolk and White Norfolk. The prepara- tion of thesoil re- quired for a crop of turnips is vir- tually the same as for a crop of mangels, with the difference, however, that the application of tiie manure may be deferred until the winter season in all in- stances where It is so desired. When the ma- nure is thus ap- plied, however, the ground would require plowing again in the spring. The aim both in the autumn and in the spring ind weed seeds, so fai ed by stirring the land require. The proper 1 be found peculiarly Field Roots. 119 helpful In freeing the land from weeds. The cultivation In the autumn goes far toward freeing the section of the soil that is then uppermost from the presence of these noxious Intruders. And the cultivation in the spring before sowing the crop will go far toward se- curing a similar result with the section of the soil which was under- neath in the fall, but which was placed uppermost by the plowing In the spring. The spring plough- ing should take place early to fa- cilitate the decay of the manure, and to lengthen the period for occasional shallow surface culti- vation in the spring. Such cul- tivation will facilitate the reten- tion of ground moisture, hence there is less difficulty in securing germination in sucli soils when the weather is dry. Purpi.Top8t»pl««« t«™ir. Superphosphate and salt stand high in favor among commercial fertilizers for applying to the turnip crop. These manures may be used at the rate of two hundred pounds of each and upward per acre. They may be sown on the land just before It is harrowed for the last time pre- vious to sowing the Mcd. In conjunction with mod- erate dressings of farm yard manure they usually prove satisfactory. The time for sowing the seed is somewhat depend- ent on the location and climate. In the Northern stateg, from Michigan White Flat Dutch Turnip. eastward, and in Canada, from Lake Huron *? the Atlantic, the favorite time for sowing Swed- ish turnips is from June 10th to June 2Sth, and for sowing Fall turnips from July 1st until well on in August, according to the use for which they may be desired. In the Northern states west from Michigan a somewhat later period would probably be safer than an earlier one, but the season of sowing would probably have to vary more I !•: "T 120 Grasses, Clovers, Field Roots, Forage and Fodder Planti, Iv'l it ^ f m ■ t: % i '*'^il«ai In the west than In the east in order to obtain periods of sufficient mois- ture to secure germination of the seed. In states lyinK further to the south than those named, It would be well probably to still further post, pone the time of sowing, as turnips will not flourish In temperatures where the air Is hot and laclj w .m i jww » M « m i Bm) ii . ' m i.i H Mi 'J iiJii n '" Uu**"« « Fotiiier PhiHls. to Kfow turnips tluis, to be had, this mode th for forage uses. It )e found ultimately to tties, since they grow so much certainty of its. Nor is there any isect pests. Carrots ind are excellent for particularly beneficial e deprived of succu- ;edom to milch cows to the milk, or taint rown on avera(;e soi!9 itumn, and has much immcr, so that when return may be looked lese facts It does seem <, In the east, north, ingle season to pass >mall, for the use of ig has been a serious Almost any kind of ve a crop of carrots. )se of a deep, sandy largely of vegetable r degree. But some lallower and heavier ot requires soils with- the soil Is cloddy or ; prongs In the roots itivation. They are d short, and by their irletles are somewhat 'estlng them, and for Jk«..A. M , B., O. Oo.'« MMtadoD Carrot. N., B., O. Co. 'a VUtoriit Onrrot. ■r ^.! tKi n 'I 'I I, I I the further reason that they Jo not now yield such larjje crops as some of the other varieties. Amonx varieties wliich h;ive become prominent In the Northwest, none stands higher In favor than N., B., O. Co.'s Mjs- tadon. It Is of the short class, and gives the greatest yield per acre of any carrot now grown. The roots are short and heavy at the shoulder, hence they arc easily harvested. Nor are they liable to break when being pulled or stored. The roots often measure from fifteen to twenty Inches In circumference, and a crop of from eighteen to twenty-five tons per acre has frequently been grown. The quality Is also gr od, as the flesh Is white, crisp, solid and of sweet flavor. It Is a great Improve- ment on the white and green fleshed Belgian kinds which have been the standard varieties In the past. It Is not only more productive, but Is much more easily handled. Northrup, Braslan, Goodwin Co.'s Vic- toria Carrot Is considered the largest and heaviest cropping yellow variety. It Is thought by many to be the largest, best formed and most nutritious of the orange or yellow varieties of carrots now grown. Although It Is not quite so easily harvested as the Mastadon, some growers prefer It on account of Its color. Denver's Half Long Carrot, a short variety. Is properly speaking a garden carrot, but owing to Its fine and sweet quality, the firm character of Its flesh and the ease with which It Is harvested. It Is sometimes preferred to the larger sorts. It grows smoothly and handsomely, and Is of a dark orange color. In preparl.ig the soil for carrots nearly the whole of the work should be done the previous autumn. The handling of the soil In the autumn may be the same as described In preparing It for a crop of mangels. In the spring the soil will only want to be stirred with a cultivator or harrow, or probably with these implements In succession, prior to the sowing of the seed. It Is specially Important to remove the weeds and weed seeds from the upper section of the soli the previous autumn, as there Is no opportunity for doing It In the spring before the crop is sown. Carrot seed should be sown as early as possible In the spring. This root requires the whole of the growing season to perfect Its growth. There Is no danger that It will receive injury from spring frosts. Good crops may sometimes besecured when the seed Is sown at an advanced period of the spring, but they are by no means so certain as when the crop has been sown early. The seed maybe sown with a hand machine when small areas are asjuN^tunimigBtiafalSMtiatvi.'- 1 Fitwiu^ rttnlit I larife crops as some of ! bccume proniliu'Dt In N., B., O. C;o.'s Mjs- atest yield per acre of fteuvy at the shoulder, liable to break when from fifteen to twenty len to twenty-five tons y Is also vo<\, as tha It Is a K^eut Improve- inJs which have been more productive, but 1, Goodwin Co.'s Vic- viest cropping yellow ;est, best formed and if carrots now grown. the Mastadon, some 's Half Long Carrot, a rrot, but owing to Its csh and the ease with I the larger sorts. It k orange color, ole of the work should the soil in the autumn or a crop of mangels. 1 with a cultivator or iccesslon, prior to the to remove the weeds I the previous autumn, iprlng before the crop losslble in the spring, n to perfect Its growth, n spring frosts. Good i sown at an advanced certain as when the ! when small areas are /y»7«/ Roah, \2S grown. When sown In raised drills the same machine will sow carrots HH is used for sowing oilur kinds of field roots. W'iicn l.irge areas are sown a griiin drill ni.iy be iisod. With some grain drills it may be nec- essary first to mix tlie seed with some dry substance, such us earth or ashes. Hut wlii-n a grain drill is usi-d In sowing any kind of field roofs, great care must be takt-ri t ttliig In the autumn, I N I ) K X . Altike Clover. ArtUhiikeu'- in Minne- sota. The parent tree Is now 2f) vears old, and Is in hella ,oiuUtioii to ihtv than any other seedlini? tree bearing standard apples, in the State of Minnesota, without any exception. The Olroo/oftts beint: ^r,Hiii,ie. The North Star Currant is recommended for general plant- ing by the Minnesota State Horticultural Society. Every plant guar- anteed. Try them. In addition to the above, we grow a general line of nursery stock, consisting of Hardy, Iron Clad Apple, Plum and Cherry TreeH, Sliade, Ornamental and Weepint; Trees, Grape VineH, Currants, Gooseberries, .luneberries, Raspber- ries, Blackberries, l»owberrles. Strawberrirs, Orna- mental Shrubs, Vines, Roses and Greenhouse Plants '" " Whe^n buying, always order NORTHERN GROWN trees, plants, etc., that are acclimated and adapted to this severe cold cli- mate. We guarantee all goods shipped by us to be strictly first-class and in perfect condition to grow. Write for catalogue and send us your orders. THE JEWELL NURSERY CO. LAKE CITY, MINNESOTA. jm ry Co. Speclaltlti. \n)iiitini,^\n Minne- in />f//i/ (Oiiilitioii ard apples, in the kabenn is hardier, s borne more fruit, ipple Rrown. It is Minnesota and the riK apple-tree in the t Red Currant ever ;. .S'A'cX- sent out isf>roofofitsb(i)i,t: I for general plant- Every plant guar- ne of nursery stock, nil and Cherry If Trees, Grape rrles, RuHpber- irberrlrs, Orua- mliouHe Plants r GROWN trees, lis severe cold cli- be strictiv first-class lRY CO. A. THE VICTORY SEPARATOR HAS NO EQUAL FOR RAPID THRESHING, SEPARATING and cleaningall kinds of Grain, Flax and Timothy. Seven sizes, from 28-inch cylinder and 42-inch rear to 4()-inch cylinder and 62-inch rear. Both Minnesota and North Dakota State Universities after thorough trials, have purchased Victory Separators for use on their ex- perimental farms- because of their superior separating and cleaning capacity. THE MINNEAPOLIS TRACTION ENOINE Will draw a heavier load, steam oaiier, use less fuel, than any other engine in America. Sizes: 10-12-14- 16-18 horse-power: Wood and Coal or Straw-burn- ers, as desired. We also manufacture Victory Self- feeders, Reliance Horse Powers, Weighers. Bag- ger Attachments, Etc. Write for new cata- logue. THE ilNNEAPOLIS THRESHINO iACNINE 00. MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA. ONLY MEDAL AWARDED FOR A COMPLETE THRESHINO OUTFIT AT THE WORLD'S COLUHBIAN EXHIBITION. iBy.i. J-' I RE-GLEANED GRASS MID GLOVER SEEDS We carry Urg* .tock.. .nd tell .t lowe.t m.rk.t pries. Timothy Clovr.. R.d Top. Blue Or.... Orch.rd Or.... Ml.l.l.. Bromu. Timothy. Clov.rj|. K ^^^ P^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ q^.„„. our P.rm.n.nt P.Mur. .nd H.y nixtur.. ar. p.„porM»ncd ho as ... give HutlHfttctory resulls. IMPROVED FARM SEEDS. Wu devote more altenll"" and attrjialor acroanc of land u. X urowlnxof p«rf.-.tcd KtraloHof OaU. Barley, Wheat, Rye, Corn, Mangele, than any other seed cstabllBUment. Rutabagas, Carrot*, Rape, fiorghun, Peaa, Potatoes, etc. VeGETABLE AND FLOWER SEEDS. Our Prices are always Reasonable. Garden Tools. Lawn Mowem. Fertiliser.. Lawn Qnui. Iwectl- cides. Hand Weeders. Cultivators, Meeker Smoothing Harrows, etc. Write for price on anything wanted for THE GARDEN, FIELD AND LAWN. NORTHRUP. BRASLAN, GOODWIN CO , 24. ae, 28 & 30 HCNNEPIN AVEWOC. MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. I jmm )VER SEEDS rpiiMHfcl tor purity. narkat prlM*. IraM. Milieu, Bromu* cy arastet. yorlloned ho us to give or iicrtmne ralnMcif Sorxhum, Pea*. PoUtoea, etc. lent. ER Seeds. lo8. They uro caro- )St crttic:il. aUe> Lawn Qnas, Insectl- eker Smoothing ited tor LAWN. GODWIN Co , kVCNUC. >4NCAPOLIS. MINN. f mawMHHBM i. '.') I ill *5 r! "I I I;