RED CLOVER. 81 



the large proportion of mitriment thus derived. In this respect other legu- 

 minous crops are much like red clover. 



" Clover seed is the best manure that a farmer can use." Clover has been 

 called "a trap for nitrogen," :is it collects and presents large quantities of 

 combined nitrogen in a form ready to nourish growing crops. 



In the words of Dr. Kedzie, "With an adequate supply of combined 

 nitrogen all the other chemicals of agriculture become active, while a limited 

 supply of active nitrogen correspondingly limits the action of the rest. For 

 higli farming or the raising of exceptionally large crops, the great want is 

 an abundant and cheap supply of ammonia and the nitrates. 



" An acre of good clover will make 5,000 pounds of hay, containing 282|- 

 pounds of minei-al matter or ash. In this ash will be 97^ pounds of potash, 

 96 pounds of lime, 34| pounds of magnesia, and 28 pounds of phosphoric 

 acid. The hay will also contain 108 pounds of combined nitrogen." The 

 roots and stubble contain fully as much of these elements as the hay. 



Baron J. 13. Lawes found that in autumn after the last crop of clover was 

 cut, that remaining above ground and to the depth of 27 inches, was 

 examined : 



Pounds per acre, dry. 



Stubble, etc., above ground contained --- 2,669 



1st uineinches " " - 3,017 



2d " " " 273 



3d '• " " 191 



Total .-.- - 6,152 



This was between three and four times as much dry matter as the residue 

 of the barley. 



In the words of Kedzie, "The clover hay, or sod, contains enough phos- 

 phoric acid for more than double an average crop, enough nitrogen 

 for morei than four average crops, and potash for more than six 

 average crops of wheat! If any person were preaching the gospel of 

 agriculture, he well might hold up the triple leaf of the red clover as the 

 eymbol of a trinity of blessing to the farmer, furnishing for his cereal crops, 

 from otherwise inadequate sources, a suflicient supply of potassium, phos- 

 phorous, and nitrogen. If I were designing an emblematic seal of our 

 national agriculture, I would make the central figure the clover leaf. For 

 the farmer it is the most effective trap for nitrogen within his reach." 



The late George Geddes of New York, said: "It has been demonstrated 

 beyond a doubt that clover and plaster are by far the cheapest manures that 

 can be had for our lands — so much cheaper than barnyard manure that the 

 mere loading of and spreading costs more than the plaster and clover. 

 Plow under the clover on the more distant fields when it is at full growth. 

 A very considerable part of the cultivated land of Onondaga county has 

 never had any other manuring than this clover and gypsum, and its fertility 

 is not diminishing. The cost per acre is $2.32." 



The following as to the use and management of red clover is gleaned from 

 Harris' Talks on Manures : " Clover is, unquestionably, the great reno- 

 vating crop of American agriculture. A crop of clover equal to two tons of 

 hay, when plowed under, will furnish more ammonia to the soil than twenty 

 tons of straw-made manure, fresh and wet, or twelve tons of ordinary barn- 

 jard manure. 



I prefer to make the clover into hay and feed to animals, as they seldom 



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