Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 62, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 April 1899 — Farmers' Dep’t. [ARTICLE]

Farmers' Dep’t.

Time to Sow Clover Seed. I think it best to sow clover seed, f hulled, after all danger of frost is past. Clover seed that is not hulled can be sown in February or March. Fifty years ago there were no clov. ' er hollers and the clover seed was then sown with the hull on, it being a great protection to the seed. Clo ver seed in its natural state with the hull on will grow after tt has been turned under 3 years and thed turned back to the surface. The heat will start the germ and will grow. Hence the necessity of sowing the seed that is stripped bare and has nothing to protect it after all danger of frost is past, There is no seed better protecte from the elements than clover seep in its natural state, before the hull is torn off by the huller. I think it is best to sow clover on wheat or rye, in the Spring. They are the best nurse crop for the clover. After sowing, harrow, or run the weeder to cover the seed. If sown with oats, sow as soon as the oats are harrowed in. Sow on the fresh soil and harrow once with a light harrow or weeder, or sow when the oats are about 1| inches high and then harrow or rnn the weeder. About this time the weeds are coming up and this will kip the weeds and cover the seeds. If heavy rains have packed the ground put 15 or 20 pounds weight on the weeder. Do not be afraid, the teeth will stand it, and it will in- , crease the oat crop. There has been thousands of dollars thrown away in this county, by sowing hulled clover seed too early in the Spring. Clean seed when thrown on the ground absorbs moisture very fast and will , burst open, and like the bean when it opens, the two halves of seed form the first two leaves. In this stage of its growth the whole plant is exposed to the winds and frost and it will perish. In sowing early you lose all the seed that does not lodge in cracks or is covered by the frost or rains. Dont sow too early and harrow in the seed when you de

sow.

F. W. B.

When tv Torn Ont Cattle. Editor Republican: I see in your paper a question as to when is the best time turn to out on grass, cattle that have been roughed I through the winter. My experience, is that my cattle • have shed off, and done better when turned out as soon as there is grass enough for them to live on. They then come on to full grass feed gradual. The change from ! coarse dry feed to the washy green feed is so gradual that the system |more readily adapts itself to the change, and better results are obtained. Cattle men, this is the time to think of this, what is your experience? Stockman.