Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-03-05

| the soil is so compact that water cannot as
cend, while with sandy and gravelly soils
! they are so open as to prevent it rising.
Hence, in this respect clover has an excellent
effect in both conditions of soil, while as TO
its fertilzng properties the sandy soils re-
ceive the same benefits as those Of clayey
nature.
For the farmer to receive full benefit from
clover, it should be sown either alone or in
connection with such grasses rs blossom at
about the same time, among which may be
mentioned orchard grass Kentucky blue
grass, Italian rye grass, perennial rye grass
tall meadow oat grass and meadow fescue,
the latter being best adapted 10 moist lands
Sown with these grasses the full benefit of
the clover as hay is received. while the adj
vantage from its roots is equally as great as
though sown with timothy or red-top. Clio
yer, however, makes an excellent forage crop
when sown alone, and if sown in the spring
without grain will yield good crop by the
first of August, while if sown in connection
with the abovenamed grasses a good crop
may be cut about the same tune. On light
sandy lands it is best to SOW clover alone,
that Is, without grain crop. If sown with
either oats or barley, part of the clover crop
will stand a chance of being lost by reason Of
taking of the grain at a time when the plant
- lStol hblt " tlNluIt Nub nays VI lllt uOl
summer sun. When young, clover is very
tender plant and can neither endure extreme
drought nor cold, consequently it should not
be sown in the fall later than the first of
August, neither should cattle be allowed to
feed it the first fall after seeding, since they
are aptto damage the crown, which ifbitten of
isvery likely TO kill the root. If the stalks and
leaves of the young plants in the fall are al
lowed to remain they will add much to the
fertility of the soil.
When clover is to be sown IN the spring it
is best to pillow and manure in the fall pre-
pairing the ground ready for the seed then
as soon as the frost is out of the ground SOW
the clover seed and bush it in. BY this meth
cd strong growth is secured before it can
be effected either by heat or drought When
the tap root reaches n considerable distance
into the ground, dry weather does not affect
the clover plant very much, but its extensive
foliage throws off large amount of water
and on hot days it is found to wilt more than
is the case with other grasses. Some farmers
object to sowing clover alone on account of
the necessity of blowing the land again so
soon, but this is a very slight objection, since
the soil is so thoroughly benefited by repeat
ed plowings Glover may be sown on winter
rye or with spring rye or again with barley
and oats when the latter are to be cut green
and for soiling. As a fertilizer clover is used
as green manure plowed under. by some
cultivators a first crop is taken of for hay
while the clover is in blossom, then second
crop for seed, finally the roots being plowed
under and wheat sown. Glover roots contain
the most fertilizing matter after the stems
have been allowed to go to seed
In England, also in Canada there is one
use to which clover is applied, little known to
the farmers of this country. In the vicinity
of large towns and cities, quantities Of clover
are grown which, when in blossom, are cut
and tied up III lunches like sheaves of grain
then taken to market and sold to stable men
or dairymen for use in feeding such animals
as are put up in stables Its use as a forage
plant, i'll such cases is of great value, while
no less so in a medicinal point of view. The
use OF clover in the improvement of lands is
practised but to q limited extent in our coun-
try as compared with the practice in other
lands. In this respect our farmers need a
more progressive spirit. The soil of Belgi-
UNI, which was formerly white, loose and
porous sand, upon which little wheat could
be grown, has, through the system of plow-
ing in green clover and other green crops
been converted into a fertile loan. At first
the Belgian farmers only turned up the soil to
a depth of three or four inches continuing to
work it deeper and deeper until now they
possess a strong, rich, deep loamy soil that
produces from thirty to forty bushels of
wheat to the acre. without clover no man
in Flanders would pretend to cali himself a
farmer" The same should apply to the far
mer in New England, while it is certain that
an enlightened and progressive policy will
dictate more general cultivation of clover
throughout the older settled portions Of this
country. -1mcricOH CUlirdtDr.