Year: 1863

l.


The importance Of the clover plant In
all systems of rotation which have for
their object not only profitable returns,
but the keeping up of the fertility of the
soil, can scarcely be overrated. Well
did the good knight Schubert. more than
two hundred years ago, promise the peas.
ants Of Germany that, if they would
grow clover, they should have ample
cause for rejoicing, and praising the Lord
out of the fullness of their hearts, for
His rich blessings. Ia pursuance of this
advice 'clover became. in the words of
Thaer. "the basis Of agriculture, the piv-
on which il should turn" which in sys-
TEN Of rotation with other crops, s'yields
an advantageous produce. and at the same
time maintains-th soil in favorable con-
ditiOn for the following crops" If this
was true of German agricultural it IS
equally SO of that of many sections of this
country. Mr.. Geddes, in his survey of
Onondaga Co., for the New York State
Agricultural Society, opens his chapter
on practical farming with these words:
1.-The agriculture of Onondaga County is
based on the clover plant. II is used for
pasture, for hay, and for manure. Strike
this plant out of existence and revolu-
ton would follow that would make it nec-
essary to learn everything anew in re-
gard TO cultivating our lands. y


Properly managed, 1t is equally impor-
tant on many soils, TO the New England
Farmer. Hence we would offer supdry
further suggestions as to soils and seeding


The soils most favorable to clover are
those containing both lime and clay not
too great a proportion of the latter, but
rather that known as a clayey loan. On
such soil. In aeproper state of cultiva-
tion, it is, according to Thaer, sin its na-
tive abode nothing is required beyond
the spreading of the seed-the clover
gets the better of all the lands that grow
around it." Il will thrive on any soil of
moderate depth and fertility. if favored
by a season of sufficient moisture. San
dy loans, however. are often deficient in
lime, and also overcharged with acids, as
shown by the growth of sorrel and dock,
which are apt to overgrow the clover
but ashes or manure will so stimulate
the clover that it will finally succeed. It
is said that mixture of ashes add gyp-
sum is much the best top dressing of clo-
yer, on very acid soils, greatly increasing
its growth.


Clover is best sown with some other
crop, because it rarely yields much the
first year, and in the early stage of its
growth it Is assisted by the protection Of
other grain, which should be removed as
early as may be, for 'the sooner" says
Thaer, '.the crop with which clover is
grown is harvested, the greater the
growth of the clover" In my expert
ence have found it to succeed best with
winter wheat and rye, next with spring
wheat, next with barley, and lastly with
oats.


A good deal of clover seed has been
sOwn which has failed to produce the In
tended crop, and various causes operate
to hinder It's vegetation or to destroy the
young plants. One cause of non-veget-
alton is the deep covering, or no covering
given the seed. Sown on spring grain,
and narrowed in with a heavy harrow,
much is ploced too deep TO be able TO
grow. Or, if sown on the fresh soil, af-
ter the grain is covered, without any af-
ter treatment, unless heavy rain comes
soon to wash it into the soll. the failure
is equally sure. On winter grain, it is
sometimes lost because sown too late. If
sown in March, or as soon as the fields |
are bare. the freezing and lhawing of
the soil will furnish proper covering for
clover on spring grains l would rather
use the roller after sowing, or pass over
it with a light brush harrow.


Another cause of failure, one from
which we have suffered more than any
other, is the drought often occurring in
early summer, before the younger clover |
gets sufficient growth to Withstand its ef-
fects, and it is burned or dried up Rem
edy: the earliest sowing practicable, and |
manurial aid to induce vigorous growth.
Gypsum, plaster, usually proves such
stimulant A light top-dressing of fine
manure narrowed in with the spring
grain, is equally beneficial, and if the
sell is not very fertile, should be given,
in addition to the dressing of plaster and
ashes.


On land running down to a very low
state of fertility. some such treatment is
absolutely necessary; but once secure
your clover crop and you may redeem
your land H.