SECRETARY'S REPORT. 



103 



Fig. 83. 



Red Clover. 



Clover is emphatically a lime plant, and the soils best adapted 

 to it are tenacious or stiff loams. The careful analysis of Prof. 

 Way found no less than 35.39 per cent, of lime in the inorganic 

 constituents of red clover, and that of Boussingault 32.80 per 

 cent., while intelligent practice has arrived so nearly at the 

 same conclusion, that the term " clover soils " is now almost 

 universally . used to indicate a tenacious loam, containing more 

 or less of lime in its composition. 



Another great advantage in favor of the cultivation of clover, 

 consists in its rapid growth. But a few months elapse from the 

 sowing of the seed before it yields, ordinarily, an abundant and 

 nutritious crop, relished by cattle of all kinds. 



Clover seed should always be sown in the spring of the year, 

 in the climate of New England. It is often sown upon the late 

 snows of March or April and soon finds its way down to the soil, 

 where, aided by the moisture of early spring it quickly germi- 

 nates and rapidly shoots up its leaf stalks. 



An accurate and valuable analysis of this plant, both in its 

 green and dry state, will be found in a tabular form on a sub- 

 sequent page, while a more extended notice of its culture and 



