128 BOARD "OF AGRICULTURE. 



3. Notwithstanding the large amount of nitrogenous mat- 

 ter, and of the ash constituents of plants in the produce of 

 an acre, clover is an excellent preparatory crop for wheat. 



4. During the growth of clover a large amount of nitroge- 

 nous matter accumulates in the soil. 



5. This accumulation, which is greatest in the surface-soil, 

 is due to decaying leaves dropped during the growth of 

 clover, and to an abundance of roots, containing, when dry, 

 from one and three-quarters to two per cent of nitrogen. 



6. The clover-roots are stronger and more numerous, and 

 more leaves fall on the ground, when clover is grown for 

 seed than when it is mown for hay. In consequence, more 

 nitrogen is left after clover-seed than after hay, which 

 accounts for wheat yielding a better crop after clover-seed 

 than after hay. 



You see that is a most important consideration ; for if you 

 can get a good crop of clover, and have your ground left in 

 better condition than before for wheat, or any other grain- 

 crop, that is so much clear gain, is it not ? 



7. The development of roots being checked when the prod- 

 uce in a green condition is fed off by sheep, in all probabili- 

 ty leaves still less nitrogenous matter in the soil than when 

 clover is allowed to get riper, and is mown for hay. Notwith- 

 standing the return of the produce in the sheep-excrements, 

 wheat is generally stronger, and yields better, after clover 

 mown for hay than when the clover is fed off green by sheep. 



Notwithstanding all the excrements wliich are left by feed- 

 ing clover green by sheep, the soil is decidedly better for a 

 wheat-crop, if the clover is allowed to go to seed, than it 

 would be if the clover were cropped green by any number of 

 sheep. That is an important fact. 



8. The nitrogenous matters in the clover-remains on their 

 gradual decay are finally transformed into nitrates, thus 

 affording a continuous source of food, on which cereal crops 

 specially delight to grow. 



There is another important consideration: that is, you 

 apply the Stockbridge Fertilizer, nitrate of soda, or any other 

 form of nitrate, in the spring, as most farmers would apply a 

 special fertilizer, and all that you may apply is not so valuable 

 for a grass-crop or for a grain-crop as the nitrogen which is 

 left after a crop of clover, either cut for hay or ripened for 

 seed. 



