,transcriber ,note ,text emphasis is denoted as ,italics4 ,whole and fractional parts of numbers as #abc-d_/e4 ,,sweet ,,clover ,,harvesting ,,and ,,thrashing ,,the ,,seed ,,crop ,h4 ,s4 ,,coe ,assistant ,agrononmist1 ,office of ,forage-,crop ,investigations ,illustration ,,farmers' ,,bulletin #hcf ,,united ,,states ,,department ,,of ,,agriculture ,contribution from the ,bureau of ,plant ,industry ,,wm4 ,a4 ,,taylor1 ,chief ,washington1 ,d4 ,c4 ,july1 #aiag ,show this bulletin to a neighbor4 ,additional copies may be obtained free from the ,division of ,publications1 ,united ,states ,department of ,agriculture ,,washington 3 ,,government ,,printing ,,office 3 #aiag ,,sweet ,,clover should be cut for seed when three-fourths of the seed pods have turned dark brown to black4 ,at this time some flowers and many immature pods will be found on the plants1 but the field will have a brownish cast4 ,sweet-clover seed pods shatter badly when mature4 ,for this reason every precaution should be taken to cut the plants at the proper stage and to save as much of the shattered seed as possible4 ,shattering may be reduced to a minimum by cutting the plants when they are damp from rain or dew4 ,no machine thus far placed on the market has given entire satisfaction in cutting sweet clover for seed4 ,the ordinary mower should not be used for harvesting the seed crop4 ,the seed crop is usually cut with a self-rake reaper1 grain binder1 grain header1 or corn harvester4 ,the self-rake reaper and the grain binder have been most satisfactory4 ,the seed crop should be stacked unless it can be thrashed within two weeks after cutting4 ,much shattered seed will be saved if a wagon with a tight floor is used for hauling the plants4 ,if the wagon bed is not tight it should be covered with a tarpaulin or canvas4 ,the seed may be flailed from the plants1 as is customary in the ,south1 or it may be thrashed with a grain separator or clover huller1 as is the practice in the ,north4 ,the ordinary grain separator may be adjusted so that it will hull #ij per cent of the seed4 ,sweet-clover straw has considerable feeding value4 ,,sweet ,,clover3 ,,harvesting ,,and ,,thrashing ,,the ,,seed ,,crop4#a #a ,this bulletin discusses only the harvesting and thrashing of the sweet-clover seed crop4 ,the growing of sweet clover and its utilization are discussed in ,farmers' ,bulletin #gig1 entitled ,sweet ,clover2 ,growing the ,crop1 and ,farmer's ,bulletin #hbj1 entitled ,sweet ,clover3 ,utilization1 respectively4 ,,contents4 ,page4 ,the crop to harvest for seed #c ,time to cut the seed crop #d ,loss of seed from shattering #d ,machinery used for harvesting the seed crop #e ,stacking the sweet-clover seed crop #ag ,thrashing the sweet-clover seed crop #ah ,yields of sweet-clover seed #ba ,sweet-clover straw #bc ,,the ,,crop ,,to ,,harvest ,,for ,,seed4 ,white sweet clover and biennial yellow sweet clover are harvested for seed the year following seeding4 ,in localities where those species will produce two cuttings the second year1 either the first or the second crop may be harvested for seed4 ,as the plants die when mature1 only one cutting will be obtained if the first crop is permitted to ripen4 ,it is becoming a general practice in many sections of the country to utilize the first crop of the second season for pasture1 ensilage1 or hay1 and the second crop for seed4 ,as a rule1 this is the most profitable and economical way to handle sweet clover1 as the first crop will produce an abundance of nutritious pasturage or from #f to #aj tons of ensilage or #a to #c tons of hay to the acre4 ,the second crop seldom grows more than #d feet high when the first crop is pastured or cut4 ,the shorter growth of the second crop is a very desirable feature1 as it may be cut with a grain binder without difficulty4 ,when the first crop of white sweet clover is permitted to mature1 the plants often make so large a growth that it is very difficult to handle them with ordinary farm machinery4 ,this trouble is experienced more often in humid regions than in semiarid sections4 ,as biennial yellow sweet clover seldom grows as tall as the white species1 little difficulty is experienced in cutting the first crop of the second year for seed with a grain binder4 ,annual yellow sweet clover1 or sour clover1 is seldom grown for seed1 as a sufficient quantity to supply the market is obtained from the screenings of wheat grown in the ,southwest4 ,sweet-clover seed ripens irregularly and shatters badly when mature4 ,on this account much seed is lost before and during harvest1 and ordinary harvesting machinery has not been entirely satisfactory for handling the crop4 ,,time ,,to ,,cut ,,the ,,seed ,,crop4 ,opinions of extensive growers of sweet clover differ as to the proper stage at which to cut the seed crop4 ,some believe that it should be cut when the pods on the lower branches have turned dark brown to black1 while others maintain that it is best to wait until the seed on the upper portions of the plants is mature4 ,the time of cutting the seed crop should be governed largely by the machinery which is to be used4 ,if the plants are to be harvested with a self-rake reaper or a grain binder1 they should be cut when approximately three-fourths of the seed pods have turned dark brown to black4 ,at this time some flowers and many immature pods will be found on the plants1 but the field will have a brownish cast4 ,if the crop is not cut until the seed pods on the uppermost branches have matured1 most of the pods on the lower branches will have shattered4 ,it is the practice in regions where a grain header is employed to permit the plants to become somewhat more mature before cutting the seed crop than in sections where other machines are used4 ,more seed is shattered when the plants are cut at the latter stage1 but this is not necessarily a loss1 as the grain header is employed for the most part in semiarid regions1 where the shattered seed is depended upon to reseed the land4 ,,loss ,,of ,,seed ,,from ,,shattering4 ,from one-fifth to three-fourths of the total seed yield of sweet clover is lost from shattering4 ,the percentage of the loss which occurs before harvesting will depend largely on the time the crop is cut4 ,much seed may be lost if harvesting is delayed for only a few days1 and many fields have been observed in which at least #ij per cent of the seed had shattered in less then two weeks after the time the plants should have been cut4 ,the percentage of seed which is lost in harvesting will depend largely upon the manner of handling the crop4 ,the binder or header may be equipped at a small cost1 so that much of the seed which ordinarily is lost while cutting may be saved4 ,much shattered seed will be saved by using wagons with tight platforms or platforms covered with canvas4 ,all unnecessary handling should be avoided4 ,shattering may be reduced to a minimum by cutting the plants when they are damp from rain or dew4 ,it is the practice in some regions to cut in the early morning or late evening1 but this procedure will apply only to small acreages1 since it is necessary to cut the crop as soon as possible when it reaches the proper stage for harvesting4 ,it is a good practice to cut sweet clover at night1 as the plants usually are damp at that time4 ,,machinery ,,used ,,for ,,harvesting ,,the ,,seed ,,crop4 ,no machine thus far manufactured has given entire satisfaction for cutting the sweet-clover seed crop4 ,on account of the ease with which the pods shatter1 it is a question whether any machine can be devised which will handle this crop without the loss of some seed4 ,it is possible and practicable1 however1 for farmers at a small cost to equip their binders with pans and guards1 so as to save most of the seed which otherwise would be lost4 ,,the ,,ordinary ,,mower4 ,the ordinary mowing machine is one of the most unsatisfactory devices used for harvesting this crop1 as the subsequent handling necessary to place the plants in windrows or cocks causes much of the seed to shatter4 ,the use of this machine for this purpose should be avoided whenever possible4 ,,the ,,self-,,rake ,,reaper4 ,the self-rake reaper is one of the most efficient machines employed to cut sweet clover for seed4 7,fig4 #a47 ,this machine deposits the newly cut plants with the tops all turned one way in gavels or bunches at the side1 so that the horses do not trample them on the next round4 ,a high stubble also may be left1 thereby reducing the weight and bulk of the plants which must be hauled to the thrashing machine4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #a4--;,a self-rake reaper used in some sections of the country for cutting the sweet-clover seed crop4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #b4--;,a sled used in western ,kansas for hauling sweet clover from the field to the thrashing machine4 ,it is the custom in some localities to leave the gavels to cure as dropped by the reaper on the ground1 while in other sections they are placed in cocks that weigh about #cjj pounds each when cured4 ,if the gavels are to be placed in cocks1 this should be done immediately after cutting1 as the plants will be somewhat green and tough at this time and fewer pods will shatter than when the plants are permitted to dry before handling4 ,when the crop is to be hauled to the thrashing machine on wagons it is best to permit the gavels to cure as dropped by the reaper1 as it will then be possible to pitch them on the wagon with a large #d-tined fork4 ,if the crop is to be hauled to the thrashing machine on large sleds1 which is the practice in western ,kansas1 less seed will be lost from shattering if the gavels at the time of cutting are placed in cocks of such a size that they may be put on the sleds entire by two men lifting from opposite sides of the cock with #d-tined forks4 ,the sleds used for this purpose usually are #ab by #bj foot in size1 made of matched flooring and with #f to #ab inch sides4 7,fig4 #b47 ,matched or tight floors are necessary1 so that all seed which shatters may be saved4 ,these would not be so essential1 however1 if the sleds were covered with a tarpaulin or canvas4 ,from the standpoint of saving shattered seed1 this method of hauling the crop from the field to the thrashing machine is possibly the most economical thus far used4 ,it is estimated that at times as much as one-third of the seed yield is collected from the floors of the sleds4 ,it would be a good plan to replace the runners of the sleds with very low trucks1 as this would lighten the draft considerably4 ,when sweet clover is cut with a self-rake reaper the crop is thrashed directly from the field4 ,from #g to #aj days of good haying weather in sufficient to cure the plants in the gavel or cock4 ,thrashing should be done as soon as possible1 much seed is shattered by rains and winds4 ,while a self-rake reaper is used to some extent in different sections of the country1 it is used most extensively in the western ,north-,central ,states1 and especially in western ,kansas4 ,,the ,,grain ,,binder4 ,a grain binder is employed extensively for cutting the sweet-clover seed crop4 7,fig4 #c47 ,the general use of this machine in many sections of the country is due to the fact that it is found on most farms and therefore causes no outlay of money1 rather than because of its efficient work4 ,it is not so efficient as the self-rake reaper unless it is equipped with pans and guards to save the seed which shatters4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #c4--;,cutting sweet clover for seed with a grain binder4 ,it is possible to equip the grain binder with pans and extensions to the rear elevator plate and binder deck1 so that at least #ie per cent of the seed which shatters when the crop is cut may be saved4 ,those pans and extensions may be made out of ordinary galvanized metal and strap iron4 ,the galvanized metal may be purchased at any tin shop or hardware store1 and if sufficient strips of iron can not be found around the farm for this purpose strap iron may be purchased at any blacksmith shop4 ,the material for those pans and extensions should not cost more than #d4ej or #e1 and it should be possible to have them made complete for #h or #aj1 including material4 ,unless there are a forge and drill on the farm it will be necessary to have the braces and supports for the pans made at a blacksmith shop4 ,the strap iron used in connection with the pans may vary in size1 but for the most part it need not be heavier than one-eighth inch in thickness1 and seven-eighths inch in width4 ,the supports for the pan under the binder deck preferably should be one-quarter inch thick1 as this pan will have much more strain on it than the pans under the elevators4 ,where bolts are to be used1 ordinary stove bolts will suffice4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #d4--,plans for a pan to be placed under the opening between the platform and lower elevator of a grain binder in order to save the sweet-clover seed which falls on the platform and on the extension to the rear elevator plate4 ,a1 size and shape of the metal before bending2 ,b1 general plan of the pan when completed1 as viewed from the top2 ,c1 cross section of the pan and outline of the support which holds it in position2 ,d1 stirrup which hooks over the inside and to which the support is fastened2 ,e1 door4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #e4--,rear view of a grain binder1 showing a cross section of the pans and supports and the parts of the machine to which they are attached4 ,a1 ,pan under the opening between the platform and lower elevator2 ,b1 support of the pan2 ,c1 stirrup which fits over the inside sill and to which the support is bolted2 ,d1 angle iron under the end of the platform and over which one end of the support is hooked2 ,e1 cross section of pan under the binder deck2 ,f1 support of the pan2 ,g1 stirrup which hooks over the outside sill and to which the support is bolted2 ,h1 angle iron which supports the guard at the end of the deck2 ,i1 guard which directs the seed that falls on the binder deck into the pan below2 ,j1 binder pipe over which one end of the support is hooked4 ,the plans for making the pan which should be placed under the opening between the platform and the lower elevator are illustrated in figure #d4 ,the material to be used for this pan should be cut to conform to the size and shape shown in figure #d1 ,a2 the sides should then be bent upright along the dotted lines1 so that the pan will be #ah inches wide at the top4 ,one end1 which should be solid1 may be made so by bending the center portion upright and then bending the sides against it4 ,the side and center pieces should be riveted together4 7,fig4 #d1 ,c47 ,any suitable door which will prevent seed from falling out of the pan will suffice for the other end4 ,a door is highly desirable1 so that the seed may be removed more easily when the pan is full4 ,a convenient type is shown in figure #d1 ,e4 ,a top view of the pan when completed is given in figure #d1 ,b4 ,it will be necessary to brace the pan1 and this may be done by riveting strips of strap iron1 preferably one-eighth inch thick and one-half inch wide1 on the outer edges of the sides4 ,this pan is held in position by two supports made of strap iron1 preferably seven-eighths inch wide and one-eighth inch thick1 which have been bent to conform to the outside of a cross section of the pan4 7,figs4 #d1 ,c1 and #e1 ,b47 ,the ends of these supports which fasten under the platform should be bent to a sharp angle and the tip of each slightly flattened1 so that they may be pushed between the angle bar at the end of the platform and the bottom of the platform4 ,the other end of each support should have a hole drilled in it1 so that it may be bolted to the stirrups1 which should be made to hook over the inside sill4 7,figs4 #d1 ,c1 and #e47 ,these supports should be placed about #f inches from the ends of the pan and riveted or bolted to it4 ,this will serve to brace the pan and to hold it in place4 ,the pan may be attached to the machine by hooking the supports over the angle iron on the bottom of the platform and by bolting them to the stirrups on the sill4 ,by supporting the pan in this manner it may be easily and quickly attached or removed4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #f4--,plans for the pan to be placed under the binder deck of the grain binder4 ,a1 ,size and shape the metal should be cut before bending2 ,b1 general plan of the pan when completed1 as viewed from the top4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #g4--,plans for the guard to be placed at the end of the binder deck of the grain binder and cross section of the pan and supports illustrated in figure #f4 ,a1 ,size and shape of the metal for the guard2 ,b1 shape of the guard when completed2 ,c1 cross section of the pan and support to which this guard is attached2 ,d1 angle iron which supports the guard at the end of the deck2 ,e1 guard bolted in position2 ,f1 stirrup which hooks over the outside sill and to which the support is belted4 ,the pan to be placed under the deck of the machine will serve to collect the seed which is shattered on the deck and the extension to the deck4 ,the plans for making this pan are shown in detail in figure #f4 ,the material should be cut along the solid lines and of the size designated in figure #f1 ,a4 ,the sides of the pan should be bent upward on the dotted lines1 so that the pan will be #bd inches wide at the top4 ,the ends should then be made in the manner described for the pan which is placed under the opening of the platform and lower elevator4 ,a door may be put in the rear end of this pan if desired2 but this is not necessary1 as no trouble will be experienced in removing the seed4 ,figure #f1 ,b1 gives a top view of the pan when completed and also a portion1 of the guard which serves to direct into this pan the seed which shatters on the deck4 ,this guard is shown in detail in figure #g4 ,as this pan is larger and heavier than that placed under the lower elevator1 not only should it have strips of iron riveted to the outer edges of the sides1 but two cross braces also should be employed4 ,those may be fastened to the strips of iron supporting the sides of the pan and should be about #ab inches from the ends of it4 ,this pan is supported by two strips of strap iron bent to conform to the outside of a cross section of it and hook over the binder pipe under the deck and bolt to stirrups placed on the outer sill of the frame4 ,each support may be made from one strip of strap iron4 ,it may be necessary to bend the ends of the supports which hook over the binder pipe in opposite directions4 ,both ends of the supports which hook over the binder pipe may hook outward1 as shown in figure #g1 ,c1 or the rear support may hook inward1 as illustrated in figure #e4 ,it is not absolutely necessary that those supports of the pan hook in opposite directions on the binder pipe1 yet when this is done it will make the pan more rigid4 ,the pan may be attached by first hooking the supports over the binder pipe underneath the deck and then bolting the other end of the supports to the stirrups on the outer sill4 ,the pan should be fastened to the supports4 ,a cross section of this pan1 the supports for it1 and the stirrups which hook over the sill are shown in figure #g1 ,c4 ,if this pan extends beyond the deck so that the seed which is shattered on the deck will drop directly into it1 the bundles when released from the packers will strike the pan4 ,for this reason it is necessary to place a guard at the end of the deck1 so that the seed which falls on the deck will be directed into the pan4 ,this guard1 as shown in figures #e and #g1 consists of a piece of galvanized metal1 to the upper side of which has been riveted a strip of iron4 ,the upper side of this guard should be bent slightly inward at the lower edge of the strip of iron and placed in such a position that it will be approximately #a-a_/b inches beyond the lower end of the binder deck and extend from #a to #a-a_/b inches above the deck4 ,if it is placed at right angles to the deck and no higher than #a-a_/b inches above it1 it will not interfere with the bundles as they are released from the packers4 ,this guard should be supported by two angles of strap iron1 as shown in figure #g1 ,d4 ,those braces are bolted to the supports of the pan1 and the guard is bolted to the braces4 ,as this guard should extend a little below the supports of the pan1 so as to prevent the wind from blowing the seed over it1 it is necessary to cut slots in the guard so it will fit over the supports4 ,the ends of this guard should be rolled slightly inward1 so that the seed falling close to them will be directed into the pan4 ,when the extension to the binder deck is placed in the proper position1 the seed collected by it will be directed against the guard and then into the pan below4 ,the extension to the elevator should be bolted to the rear elevator plate4 ,this extension should be so wide that the tops of the plants will not reach beyond it4 ,the details for this extension are shown in figure #h4 ,the outer edge and lower end of this extension should be bent upward and slightly inward1 so that the seed which falls upon it will be directed to the opening between the platform and lower elevator1 where it will fall into the pan beneath4 ,the curved edge of the lower part of this extension should be flattened as much as possible1 so that it will not interfere with the upper portions of the plants as they pass from the platform to the elevators4 ,the opening must be sufficiently large1 however1 to permit small branches and racemos which fall upon the extension to pass into the pan4 ,the angle of the lower portion of it must be large enough to permit the seed to run directly into the pan below4 ,if this portion is sloped from the seat pipe to the opening between the platform and the lower elevator no trouble will be experienced4 ,this extension may be bolted to the machine by drilling holes in it to coincide with those in the elevator plate4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #h4--,plan of the extension which is bolted to the rear elevator plate of the grain binder4 ,a1 ,size and shape of the metal to be used for this extension2 ,b1 extension when completed4 ,it is necessary to widen the binder deck1 so as to save the seed which is shattered from those portions of the plants which extend beyond it4 ,this may be done by bolting to the rear end of this deck an extension1 as shown in detail in figure #i4 ,this extension may be made from one piece of galvanized iron1 which should be cut along the solid lines and of the size shown in figure #i1 ,a4 ,it should be bent upward and slightly inward at the dotted lines shown in this figure4 ,the extended strips1 as shown in figure #i1 ,b1 should be riveted to the main part of the extension4 ,when this is done a trough will be formed along the side and lower end of it1 so that all seed which shatters upon it will be directed into the pan below the deck4 ,the object in riveting the extended strips at the end of the extension to the main part is to prevent the tops of the plants from catching in the trough when the bundles leave the packers4 ,it may be necessary to fasten a brace to the bottom of the deck to support this extension4 ,this can be done1 however1 by using a strip of strap iron or wood4 ,the upper end of this extension should be bent to fit under the upper end of the one attached to the elevator plate1 so that the plants will not be hindered in passing from one to the other4 ,both extensions may be braced strongly at the top by fastening them to a right angle of iron or wood4 ,a grain1 binder equipped with the pans and extensions herein outlined is shown in figure #aj4 ,binders equipped in the manner described have been tested carefully in different sections and have proved beyond doubt that they offer an economical device for harvesting sweet clover for seed4 ,this equipment has been used most extensively in ,livingston ,county1 ,ill41 where farmers have saved with it from #f to #aj worth of seed per acre4 ,when this equipment is used the plants may be permitted to become somewhat more mature before cutting1 as the seed which is shattered will be saved by the pans4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #i4--;,extension to the binder deck of the grain binder4 ,a1 size and shape of the metal before bending2 ,b1 extended points which are to be bolted to the main portion of the metal2 ,c1 extension when completed4 ,as the pans and extensions described have been designed for one type of binder1 it may be necessary to modify them slightly for use on other types of machines4 ,before making a set of these pans and extensions for any machine1 the plans shown should be compared carefully with the binder to be equipped1 in order that any changes which will need to be made may be noted4 ,the pans and extensions at least maybe made on the farm1 and then it will be an easy matter to check up the measurements for the supports1 which may be made at a blacksmith shop4 ,difficulty may be experienced in cutting sweet clover with a binder when the first crop has been permitted to mature1 as the plants may be so tall that the machine will not handle them properly4 ,this difficulty may be overcome entirely in most sections of the country by pasturing the field until the first part of ,june or by cutting the first crop for hay4 ,it is recommended that the stubble be left as high as possible when cutting sweet clover for seed4 ,not only will this greatly facilitate harvesting but it will leave many of the woody1 unpalatable portions of the plants on the ground1 where they will decay quickly1 and help to increase the humus content of the soil4 7,see the illustration on the title-page47 ,when the seed crop is cut with a binder it is best to shock the bundles as soon as possible1 so as to avoid unnecessary shattering4 ,conditions should determine whether the bundles be placed in long narrow shocks or in round shocks4 ,the plants will cure somewhat faster in long narrow shocks1 and this form should be preferred when grasshoppers are not troublesome4 ,sweet-clover shocks should not be capped1 as capping will cause some seed pods to shatter4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #aj4--;,a grain binder equipped with pans and extensions to the rear elevator plate and binder deck to save the sweet-clover seed which is shattered while cutting the crop4 ,,the ,,grain ,,header4 ,grain headers have been used successfully for harvesting the sweet-clover seed crop in several sections of the ,united ,states1 especially in western ,kansas4 ,the principal advantages in using this machine are that a larger acreage may be cut in a given time than with either a grain binder or a self-rake reaper and that a high stubble may be left4 ,the greater acreage which may be cut with a header is important when large acreages are to be harvested1 as much seed is lost by shattering if the crop is not cut at the proper stage for harvesting1 while the high stubble which may be left when cutting the seed crop with a grain header is a decided advantage1 as it not only reduces greatly the weight and bulb of the plants which must be thrashed1 but it also leaves the hard1 woody portions on the ground1 where they will decay and be of some value as a fertilizer4 ,it is best to remove only those portions of the plants which contain sufficient seed to thrash1 but this is not always possible1 even with a header1 unless the field contains a fairly thin stand and the plants are not more than #d-a_/b to #e feet high4 ,when the seed crop is to be cut with a grain header1 it usually is permitted to stand somewhat longer than when other machines are used4 ,a tin pan or some other receptacle should be placed at the lower end of the header elevator in order to save the seed which otherwise would be lost at that place4 ,the plants are carried into header wagons or barges in the same way as grain4 ,when a heavy crop is cut it will be necessary to have two men in the barge to handle the plants4 ,the floor of the header wagon should be made perfectly tight1 or it should be covered with a canvas or tarpaulin1 so as to save the seed pods which shatter4 ,when the crop is cut at the proper stage it may be placed directly in stacks or ricks without danger of heating or molding1 provided the ricks are covered or topped with some material which will shed water and are built upon a foundation1 so that air may circulate under them4 ,native grass or green sweet-clover plants of the first year's crop will serve very nicely for topping the stacks4 ,it is the custom of some people to place the barge loads close together in individual stacks so located that they may be hauled quickly and easily to the thrashing machine4 ,on other farms enough barge loads are placed together to make a rick approximately #aj by #aj by #dj feet in size4 ,when each barge load is placed in a separate stack it is necessary to load the plants again1 so as to haul them to the thrashing machine4 ,the shattering of seed pods and the extra labor caused by reloading and by hauling the plants may be avoided for the most part by placing the crop in ricks large enough for a day's thrashing4 ,it is good practice to place such ricks in pairs sufficiently close together for both to be pitched directly to the feeder of the machine4 ,when this method is employed two days' thrashing may be done without moving the machine4 ,the header binder1 consisting of an attachment placed upon the header to bind the cut plants1 has been used successfully in cutting the sweet-clover seed crop4 ,,the ,,corn ,,harvester4 ,corn harvesters are proving to be efficient machines for cutting sweet clover which has made a growth too large to be cut with a grain binder4 ,even when the field has been seeded broadcast a #c-;foot swath may be cut with the corn harvester1 provided the gathering or divider points are extended to collect the plants4 ,this may be done by fastening to each point a piece of wood or iron about #ah inches long4 ,when a corn binder is used no more seed is lost from shattering than when an ordinary grain harvester is employed1 unless the later is equipped with special pans and extensions1 for the reason1 primarily1 that the portions of the plants which produce most of the seed extend above the gathering or divider boards and are not crushed4 ,when a #e-;foot or larger growth is cut with a corn binder1 the plants are tied below the seed-bearing branches4 ,in the semiarid sections of the country a limited quantity of sweet clover is planted in rows for both forage and seed production4 ,in such a case the seed may be harvested with a corn binder4 7,fig4 #aa47 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #aa4--;,cutting sweet clover for seed with a corn harvester4 ,this field had been seeded in #cj-;inch rows4 ,,stacking ,,the ,,sweet-,,clover ,,seed ,,crop4 ,much discussion has taken place among extensive growers of sweet clover as to the advisability of stacking the seed crop after it is cut with a grain binder or a corn harvester4 ,the conditions present in each case should determine the proper course to pursue4 ,if it will be impossible to thrash within #aj days after cutting1 much less seed will be lost by stacking two or three days after cutting than by permitting the plants to remain in the field subject to possible rains4 ,in such cases it is urged that the crop be stacked1 as the seed saved by this operation1 if the handling is done with care1 will much more than pay for the labor4 ,when it is possible to thrash in a week or #aj days after cutting1 the crop should be thrashed directly from the field1 as little seed ordinarily will be lost during this time and the work of stacking will be avoided4 ,when the crop is to be stacked1 the stacks should be built in the same way as stacks of grain2 and when properly built they will shed water as well as grain stacks4 7,fig4 #ab47 ,it is well1 however1 to provide a covering1 and if canvas is not available a top-dressing of green grain or young sweet-clover plants will suffice4 ,sweet clover should remain in the stack for three or four weeks1 as it will require about that time for the plants to pass through the sweat4 ,a stack should always be placed on high ground1 where water will not collect about the base1 and it is recommended that a foundation of some kind be provided1 so that air may circulate beneath4 ,a few posts or rails will answer this purpose very well4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #ab4--;,a stack of sweet clover4 ,,thrashing ,,the ,,sweet-,,clover ,,seed ,,crop4 ,two methods are in general use for thrashing the sweet-clover seed crop4 ,the seed may be flailed from the plants1 or it may be removed by a grain separator or a clover huller4 ,,flailing ,,the ,,seed4 ,much of the sweet-clover seed harvested in the ,south is flailed from the plants4 ,this method is necessarily slow and does not hull the seed4 ,it is practicable1 therefore1 only in regions where the necessary machinery for hulling the seed crop is not available or where the acreage to be thrashed is very limited4 ,one advantage of thrashing the seed in this manner is that the straw is left in the field1 where it will add much organic matter to the soil4 ,when the seed is to be flailed1 the crop ordinarily is cut with a scythe or mowing machine and the plants raked into piles or windrows4 ,if only small areas are to be harvested in this manner1 a canvas or tarpaulin may be spread on the ground beside a windrow or pile and several forkfuls of sweet clover pitched on the canvas1 where the seed may be removed from the plants by striking them a few times with flails1 sticks1 or forks4 ,after the plants have been struck a few times they should be turned over and struck again4 ,when the seed is removed front the plants1 the straw may be pitched to one side1 the canvas placed beside another portion of the windrow or by another pile1 and the operation repeated4 ,it is not necessary to remove the seed from the canvas until its weight or bulk interferes with moving the canvas4 ,it is the practice in some sections of the country to place a well-braced frame1 covered with wire netting1 on a sled and to flail the seed on this frame4 ,the netting used for covering the frame should have meshes #a inch or loss in diameter4 ,the sled should be at least #g feet wide and #aj feet long and should have sides and ends approximately #ab inches high4 ,smaller sleds sometimes are used1 but a larger one is to be preferred if two or more persons are to flail on it at one time4 ,if the floor of the sled is not perfectly tight1 it should be covered with canvas and the edges of the canvas thrown over the sides and ends of the sled1 so as to avoid losing any of the seed and to facilitate its removal4 ,a sled so equipped may be drawn from pile to pile1 the plants pitched on it1 the seed flailed from them1 and the straw returned to the land for soil improvement4 ,another method1 very similar to that just described1 is to place a frame on a hayrack4 ,the frame should be built sufficiently strong and in such a manner that the person who is to do the flailing may stand on it4 ,it should be covered preferably with galvanized-wire netting having half-inch meshes1 and if this is stretched tightly it will serve to strengthen the frame4 ,if it is not practicable to make the hayrack perfectly tight1 it should be covered with a tarpaulin or canvas4 ,a wagon so equipped may be pulled from pile to pile or along the windrows1 where one person may pitch the plants upon the frame1 to be flailed by one or more persons standing on it4 ,after the seed is removed from the plants1 the straw may be scattered easily and quickly over the ground for soil improvement4 ,flailed seed should be cleaned thoroughly with sieves and fanning mills to remove the inert matter and immature pods before it is sown or offered for sale on the market4 ,it is recommended that whenever possible unhulled seed be run through a clover huller to hull the seed or through an ,ames hulling and scarifying machine to remove the hulls and to scarify the seed4 ,by this process the outer coat of the seed is scratched or broken4 ,the scarifying increases the percentage of germination by facilitating the entrance of moisture4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #ac4--,thrashing sweet clover with a grain separator4 ,note the large sleds used for handling the plants from the field to the thrashing machine4 ,,the ,,grain ,,separator4 ,a grain separator 7fig4 #ac7 is used more than any other machine for thrashing sweet clover4 ,this is because more grain separators than clover hullers are found in localities where sweet clover is grown and because the ordinary clover huller will not handle a large growth of sweet clover satisfactorily4 ,when the grain separator is operated carefully no trouble should be experienced in removing the seed from the plants1 but it is necessary to make certain adjustments if the seed is to be hulled4 ,the adjustments required will vary somewhat with the make of machine and the dryness of the crop4 ,the riddles should be adjusted or changed so they will handle sweet-clover seed properly4 ,alfalfa or red-clover riddles will answer this purpose4 ,the speed of the fan should be decreased1 so the seed will not be blown over1 and this usually will be accomplished when the speed is reduced to about one-half that used in thrashing grain4 ,the number of rows of concave teeth which should be used will vary with the dryness of the plants and somewhat with their size4 ,when it is not desired to hull the seed1 one or two rows of concave teeth will be sufficient4 ,some operators believe that one or two rows are sufficient to hull #dj to #ej per cent of the seed when the plants are very dry4 ,those are exceptional cases1 and hulled seed should not be expected unless more rows of concave teeth are used4 ,if hulled seed is desired it is recommended that a full set be used and that these be set to run closer to the cylinder teeth than is customary when thrashing grain4 ,some operators replace two rows of the smooth1 concave teeth with corrugated teeth4 ,this practice is recommended wherever possible1 as the corrugated teeth will facilitate greatly the hulling of the seed4 ,even where these changes are made1 only a small percentage of the seed will be hulled if the pods are damp4 ,if the plants have been permitted to make a very large growth the machine may clog unless the number of rows of concave teeth is reduced4 ,clogging may be overcome for the most part by feeding the bundles to the machine slowly4 ,this precaution is necessary regardless of the size of the plants if the seed is to be removed properly and hulled4 ,it is possible to hull from #ij to #ie per cent of the seed when the proper adjustments are made and the plants are dry4 ,a clover-hulling attachment1 which consists for the most part of special sieves and a number of rows of corrugated concave teeth which replace the ordinary concave teeth1 has been used with success in different sections of the country4 ,,the ,,clover ,,huller4 ,as a rule1 ordinary clover hullers do not handle sweet clover very satisfactorily4 ,machines with cylinders larger than those commonly used are giving fair satisfaction provided the plants do not make a large growth1 but even these machines have not been so successful as properly adjusted and equipped grain separators4 ,a clover huller will handle a #b to #c foot growth of sweet clover if the rows of thrashing concaves are reduced and the plants are fed slowly to the machine4 ,it will not hull sweet clover as well as red clover1 and it is very doubtful whether it will hull more seed than a grain separator equipped with a hulling attachment4 ,the manufacturer of at least one clover huller has designed special rasps for the hulling cylinder and concaves of his machine1 and these rasps do better work than the ones ordinarily used for hulling red clover4 ,it is the custom in some localities to run the sweet clover through a thrashing machine without adjusting the concaves and then to run the unhulled seed as delivered by the grain separator through a clover huller4 ,a fair quality of seed may be obtained by this process1 but it calls for much extra labor and time1 and for this reason should be avoided ,whenever possible4 ,,yields ,,of ,,sweet-,,clover ,,seed4 ,many factors besides shattering influence the yield of sweet-clover seed4 ,as only those portions of the plants exposed directly to the sunlight set seed abundantly1 thin stands usually produce more seed to the acre than heavy stands4 ,when very heavy stands make a large growth1 seed is produced only on the upper #bd to #cj inches of the plants1 whereas with thinner stands it is produced on the lower branches as well4 ,the quantity of moisture in the soil at the time the seed is maturing is an important factor also4 ,during hot1 dry weather the plants may not be able to absorb from the soil sufficient water to supply the excess required by them for seed production4 ,in this event many of the seed pods will abort and fall when partly mature4 ,pods abort and fall in a very short time1 so that partly shriveled ones seldom are found on the plants1 although the extent of the aborting is shown by the number of barren racemos4 ,when such weather conditions prevail1 the second crop usually will produce a heavier yield than the first crop4 ,this is due for the most part to the inability of the large plants to obtain sufficient water for seed production4 ,the much smaller plants of the second crop do not require as much moisture as the larger plants of the first crop1 as the vegetative growth is seldom more than half as much4 ,the type of root growth has much to do with the quantity of water the plants are able to obtain during droughty weather4 ,when sweet clover is planted on soil that has a tendency to be wet1 the plants will produce a much-branched shallow root system instead of the normal deep roots which are found on well-drained soils4 ,during dry weather the upper layers of soil become so depleted that plants having a very large percentage of their roots in these layers can not obtain a sufficient quantity of moisture to supply their requirements for seed production4 ,it is often stated that the first crop of sweet clover will produce more seed to the acre than the second crop4 ,this depends very largely upon the thickness of the stand and on weather conditions4 ,in regions where two crops may be grown in a season1 the first usually will produce more seed to the acre than the second if the field has a thin stand4 ,when the stand is thick the second crop ordinarily yields more seed4 ,in regions where a crop of hay or pasturage may be obtained in addition to the seed crop1 it is seldom an economical procedure to permit the first crop to mature4 ,not only will sweet clover produce an abundance of nutritious pasturage or a cutting of #a to #c tons of hay in addition to the seed1 but the difficulty of handling the large1 stemmy growth of the first crop for seed is avoided4 ,yields of sweet-clover seed have been reduced during the last two seasons by several fungous diseases4 ,experimental work has not been completed to show the percentage of damage done by these organisms1 but in some sections of the country seed yields were reduced considerably4 ,the clover stem borer1#b which is prevalent in red clover in certain sections of the country1 also infests sweet clover4 ,it is probable that this insect did some damage to the seed crop in certain sections of the country in #aiaf4 #b ,languria mozardi4 ,the yield of sweet-clover seed varies from #b to #aj bushels of re-cleaned seed per acre4 ,,sweet-,,clover ,,straw4 ,sweet-clover straw may be utilized for soil improvement or as a roughage for stock4 ,when it is not needed for feeding it should be turned under1 as it will add much humus and nitrogen to the soil4 ,when the seed is flailed from the plants the straw may be easily and quickly spread over the land at the time of flailing1 but when the crop is thrashed with a grain separator or a clover huller it will be necessary to haul the straw and scatter it over the field4 ,when the crop is thrashed in this manner the straw will be broken and crushed so that stock will eat it freely4 ,the straw may be run directly from the thrashing machine into the silo1 where1 by adding sufficient water1 it can be made into good silage4 ,table ,i gives the analyses of nine samples of sweet-clover straw which were collected in ,illinois in the fall of #aiaf4 ,table ,i4--,analyses of sweet-clover straw4#c ,nitrogen- ,fiber ,crude free ,sample4,moisture4 ,ash4 extract4,protein4 fiber4 extract4 ---------------------------------------- ------------------ ,no4 #a #d4b #c4ah #a4bj #h4ca #di4cg #cc4gd ,no4 #b #d4g #c4dj #a4jc #e4hh #ec4fe #ca4cd ,no4 #c #e4cd #c4jb 4#hi #f4ad #ea4aa #cb4i ,no4 #d #e4ee #d4ad #a4ed #h4dd #dc4jj #cg4cc ,no4 #e #d4ge #b4fd #a4bh #f4ha #ea4db #cb4h ,no4 #f #d4bc #b4eh #a4ac #e4dd #ee4da #ca4ba ,no4 #g #e4ec #c4ff #a4eb #g4ai #df4cd #ce4gj ,no4 #h #d4fe #b4ih #a4ch #g4ji #ea4ef #cb4cd ,no4 #i4 #d4ib #d4bb #a4gj #h4dd #df4aa #cd4fa ---------------------------------------- ------------------ #c ,these analyses were made by the ,bureau of ,chemistry4 99 99 99 99 99 ,transcriber ,note ,minor typos may have been corrected4 ,illustrations were moved to prevent splitting of paragraphs4 ,content produced from files generously provided by the ,,usda through ,the ,internet ,archive and all resultant files are placed in the ,public ,domain4