SOWING RED CLOVER. 15 



ever, red clover is one of the lending forage plants of the Willamette 

 Vallev. It is not unreasonable to assume that these hindrances to the 

 growth of red clover are largely responsible tor the nnportant place 

 that connnon vetch occupies in the agriculture of western Oregon. 



In the Willamette Valley it is a common practice to apply land 

 plaster to clover in the spring, during March and April. From 40 

 to 60 pounds per acre applied on the surface of the ground in the 

 early spring are said to double the yield of both hay and seed. Land 

 plaster has the same effect when applied to other leguminous crops 

 in this region, but it is essential that it be applied early enough to 

 receive an abundance of rain. 



METHODS OF SOWING. 



There are many methods in use for sowing red clover in Avestern 

 Oregon and western Washington, some of which are given below : 



(1) Clover icith early-sown winter ivheat. — From 8 to 12 pounds 

 of clover seed per acre are sown in the early fall with winter wheat 

 on land that has been summer fallowed or fron- which an early culti- 

 vated crop has been removed. The seed is usually sown broadcast 

 and covered with a harrow. If the clover fails to catch it can be 

 sown again in the spring, about the 1st of March. 



(2) Clooer with late-sown winter wheat.— Early in the spring, 

 about the 1st of March, when the ground is heaving slightly from 

 alternate thawing and freezing, from 8 to 10 pounds of clover seed 

 per acre are sown broadcast on late-sown winter wheat. If the 

 o-round is drv enough when the clover seed is sown it may be covered 

 with a harrow. 



(3) Clover with spring oats or wheat.— With this method a good 

 seed bed is essential. The land should be plowed deep in the late 

 fall or winter, and as soon as in good working condition in the spring 

 it should be cultivated until it is in perfect tilth. If the soil is 

 inclined to run together it may be necessary to replow in the spring. 

 Instead of plowing in the fall or winter it may be done in the early 

 spring and the seed bed prepared immediately. After drilling in 

 a full crop of oats or wheat, from 10 to 12 pounds of clover se6d per 

 acre are sown and covered with a harrow. In western Washington 

 this is the usual method, with the exception that either timothy, 

 English rye-grass, or orchard grass is usually sown with the gram 

 and clover. On wet land alsike clover often forms a part of the 



mixture. 



(4) Clover alone.— When clover is sown alone in the spring the 

 land is plowed early and worked down fine. About the 1st of May 

 it is again thoroughly cultivated to kill weeds and prepare the seed 

 bed. From 10 to 12 pounds of clover seed per acre are then sown 



94 



