Harvesting For Hay

Crimson clover is ready to be cut for hay when

coming into, and a little before it is in, fullest bloom. Some

authorities claim that it should be harvested when the blooms begin to

appear. It should certainly not be allowed to pass the stage of full

bloom, lest the hay when cured should prove hurtful to horses and

possibly to other live stock, because of the presence of hair balls,

which are then liable to form from the hairs so numerously found on this

plant. These balls produce death by forming an impermeable wedge in the

intestines of horses, thereby impeding and in some instances totally

arresting the process of digestion. These balls, almost circular in

form, are composed of minute and rather stiff hairs, and several have

been found in one animal. These hairs, numerous on the heads; do not

stiffen sooner than the period of full bloom; hence, until that stage is

reached in the growth of the plants, the danger from feeding cured hay

made from them does not occur.



In New Jersey and the neighboring States, crimson clover is ready for

being cut sometimes in May earlier or later, as the season is early or

late. Further South it is fit to harvest earlier. At that season it is

not easily cured, since then rains are more frequent than in the

ordinary harvest season and the weather is less drying. Consequently,

hay caps may frequently be used with much advantage by the growers of

this hay. (See page 98.)



It is harvested as other clover; that is, it is cut with the field

mower, raked when wilted, put up into cocks, and left to stand in these

until it has gone through the sweating process, when the cocks are

opened out again on a bright day for a few hours prior to drawing them.

The tedder should be used freely in getting the hay ready to rake, as at

that season of the year it dries slowly.