No, 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 373 



the wheat field that had been seeded to clover at the same time, 

 from five to ten times as many clover plants on a given area as grew 

 among the wheat and timothy. Then again, our custom of sowing 

 clover seed on a honey-combed soil in February or March often ex- 

 poses the young plants to destruction by frost. Even where a com- 

 paratively fair stand is secured, the plants that have struggled for 

 existence until harvest time are weak from having been deprived 

 of light and moisture by the "nurse crop," and when suddenly ex- 

 posed to the scorching sun and the drouth of July, they perish. 



If the field cannot be given exclusively to the clover and a proper 

 seed-bed prepared in the spring, a wheat or rye stubble field may be 

 prepared early in July by burning off the stubble and thoroughly 

 harrowing it. If a cutaway or disc harrow can be used the burning 

 will not be necessary. As soon as the grain can be moved the soil 

 is friable and in the best condition for pulverizing. Sow on this 

 fine seed-bed at least fifteen pounds of red or mammoth seed, or 

 eighteen to twenty pounds of crimson clover, and harrow in thor- 

 oughly. If the soil is loose and dry, especially if it be a sandy loam, 

 it should be rolled before the last harrowing. The crimson may be 

 sown on an early potato field if the potatoes can be removed by the 

 first of August. This will prove an* ideal seed-bed. Fair results 

 may be realized by sowing it among corn before the last cultivation, 

 provided the corn is of a small variety and sowed north and south 

 four feet apart. 



As shown in a very decisive manner on my own farm in several in- 

 stances, there is a wide difference between the growth of crimson 

 clover on ground that had previously raised it for two or three 

 years, and that on which none had been grown, owing to the fact 

 that the first had become well inoculated with its peculiar bacteria, 

 while the latter seemed to have very few. On the first there was a 

 complete stand three or four times as large as that on the second, 

 and the root nodules were proportionately large and more plenti- 

 ful. In rare cases it has been found necessary to inoculate the 

 field with soil taken from a good clover field and drilled in at the 

 rate of two or three hundred pounds to the acre. Careful experi- 

 ments have shown this to be successful and thoroughly established 

 the necessity of these bacteria to the full development of the clover- 

 plant. But in the case of the common clovers this will seldom be 

 necessary. Supplying the conditions already named will usually 

 insure a fine stand the first year and inoculate the soil for better 

 crops in the future. 



A very important measure in developing the root system and add- 

 ing another security against the heaving out of the young plant, is 

 clipping it early in September. No matter when sown, or whether 

 it be the first or second year, this measure will be found of great 

 advantage. Unless needed for seed or to plow in for green manure, 

 the aftermath of red clover should be clipped just before it begins 

 heading, thus turning the energies of the plant to the development 

 of the roots. I have seen many promising crops ruined by the fol- 

 lowing spring through neglecting this. This clippings, if sufficient 

 to smother the plant, may be profitably fed to the dairy, or to 

 sheep, swine or poultry. It will be found, as I have repeatedly ob- 

 served, that the July sown clover thus treated, will present a bet- 



