No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 491 



up aud grow rapidly and if the weather is favorable often cover the 

 ground with a mat six or eight inches thick, tilling the entire sur- 

 face soil with line rootlets, which absorb and hold fast to the avail- 

 able nitrogen already there, and which would otherwise be lost, 

 besides, they would acquire from the air a part at least of the 

 nitrogen which is so valuable an element. This crop would, too, 

 hold fast to the soil and prevent mechanical losses due to washing, 

 so liable to occur in winter. 



In many cases it is desirable to pasture because the large fall 

 growth of the clover, if not removed, wall increase the danger of 

 smothering in winter. Should, however, the conditions not be 

 favorable and the plants die before spring, the nitrogen in the fall 

 crop, either absorbed from the soil or accumulated from the air, 

 will amount to an equivalent of five to six tons of yard manure per 

 acre, in addition to the improvement of soil due to the considerable 

 organic matter in the crop. The crop may be turned under at any 

 time when it is convenient for the oats which follow the corn, thus 

 not interfering in any way with the rotation, though naturally the 

 amount of food gathered for the oat crop will be small, owing to 

 its early seeding. The gain here is chiefly due to the prevention 

 of losses. When there is injury to the clover crop, due to very dry 

 weather following seeding, or because of unfavorable conditions 

 which make careful seeding impossible, the advantages gained by 

 the use of this crop may be in part attained if with the clover is 

 mixed seed of the turnip, or Dwarf Essex rape, a half pint 

 of seed per acre of each of these plants, used with the clover seed, 

 using the same amount of clover, will be sutficient to give a consid- 

 erable number of plants per acre, and will not interfere with the 

 growth of the clover, should the conditions be favorable for its 

 development, and if not, then the covering of the soil by the plants 

 of the turnip and rape will be sufficient to absorb and retain food 

 that is liable to be wasted, besides there will be an accumulation of 

 vegetable matter useful in the improvement of the soil and in the 

 feeding of other crops. The soil will be covered, even though the 

 plants die, with a mulch of vegetable matter that will prevent the 

 washing and mechanical losses due to heavy storms. Where 

 neither crimson clover, turnips or rape are regarded as available 

 plants for the purpose, then rye or wheat may be seeded at the last 

 cultivation of the corn, at the rate of one and one-half bushels per 

 acre. 



By this method of practice a growing plant of the "nitrogen con- 

 suming" class is used, which will in its growth hold fast to the 

 available food liable to be lost, besides filling the ground with roots 

 and preventing mechanical losses. This crop may be turned under 



