Connecticut western news., 1883-02-28
Hints Concerning Clover.


 spring, whether with some grain crop, the cultivated grasses or as crop by itself A practice common in the North ern States is to SOW clover on late SHOWS in March or April.
 The analysis of red clover indicates what manures will increa7e it's growth. It contains from thirty-two to thirty four per cent. of lime and about the same per cent. of potash, with nine to ten per pent. of phosphoric acid, mag nesia, etc. As lime enters so largely into it's composition, lands deficient in this respect require generous applica- tions of lime. Deficient soils are also benefited by gypsum (sulphate of ime), the phosphates and wood ashes. Con- mon stable manure, containing as it does all the elements of good fertilizer, is also suitable as top-dressing for any pasture or meadow.
 While gypsum is not always success on ordinary soils, sown broadcast at the rate of one to three hundred bushels after the leaves are developed, it. seldom fails. to promote remarkable growth of stem and leaves. Experiments made by Dr. Pincus, of Germany, regarding the action of gypsum on clover, made it ap- pear that the sulphates check the develop ment of the flowers and also of the seed, from which he inferred that, while the application of gypsum is favorable to a large increase in the yield of hay, it is not favorable to the development of the seed crop. Commissioner Killebrew, of Tennessee, says he has rarely found benefit from the top dressing of gypsum on clayey loams: it's effects Have always been apparent on 8 strong limestone soil. In dry season gypsum is un- doubtedly beneficial on all soils,a ,and it always serves good end in its highly stimulating effects on well-restored lands where there is a good coat of clover.
 Bones are also an invaluable aid to clovers, their lea ing elements being lime and phosphoric acid nitrogen is also abundant. A dressing of bone dust will often quite restore old pastures which have been long cropped and the phosphate of lime exhausted. Grasses are greatly benefited by wood ashes. A top-dressing of ashes may be applied tc grass on all kinds of soil with the assur- ance that they will pay the expense at tending the application. For permanent moving lands, ashes are advised when they can be obtained in sufficient quan. tity.
 Coarse manures ought not to be thrown on clover, as they are liable te iniure the plants. An excellent top dressing for meadows, to be applied after the last cutting, or in the spring when the soil is poor, is barnyard ma nure composted with muck, peat, leaves sod, potato tops and other perishablt vegetable matter.
 Professor Levi Stockbridge, of Massa chusetts, after series of experiment: with mineral manures at the Agricul tural College at Amherst, prepared tht following formula for fertilizer to bt sown on clover-broadcast- the early spring to induce an increased yield = Nitrogen, 43 pounds; potash, 40 pounds and phospho1ic acid Il pounds. Thes' materials he advised to be supplied il : the form of sulphate of ammonia, 24 pc cent. dry salt 2l6 pounds muriate pot ash, 80 per cent. dry salt, 80 pounds superphosphates, 80 pounds, Thi amount was designed for one acre.