28 A NEW TYPE OF RED CLOVER. 



in the northwestern part of the State. This station represents fairly 

 well the conditions typical of eastern South Dakota and western 

 Minnesota. 



As in the case of Nebraska, the experimental plats were each an 

 acre in extent, and the series of 22 varieties used was identical with 

 the one grown in Nebraska, except that seed from New York was 

 added. 



SOIL AND DRAINAGE. 



The field is a piece of bottom land bordering on a small creek. 

 The soil, which is derived from the washing down of the surrounding 

 prairie upland, is a black, sandy loam. The sand varies from me- 

 dium to fine. The soil is productive, yielding excellent crops of wheat, 

 oats, barley, corn, and millet. It is quite rich in calcareous matter. 

 No definite rotation of crops including a legume has been practiced, 

 and this is the first time the land has ever borne a crop of clover. 

 On account of the excellent natural drainage due to the permea- 

 bility of the soil and the elevation above the level of the creek it 

 has not been necessary to resort to artificial drainage on the tract. 



PREPARATION OF LAND, SEEDING, AND SUBSEQUENT TREATMENT. 



No chemical fertilizers have ever been used on the field. In the 

 spring of 1903 the tract was given a heavy dressing of barnyard 

 manure, which was thoroughly worked in b}^ the preparation given 

 the land and by the cultivating of a corn crop planted that j^ear. 

 In the preceding year, 1902, the tract had grown barlej^ and millet. 



In preparation for the clover and the accompanying nurse crop 

 of barley the land was deeply plowed in the fall of 1903, and in the 

 spring of 1904 was harrowed until the seed bed was in suitable condi- 

 tion. The seeding of the barley, which was drilled in, took place 

 during the last days of April. It was harvested in Juh^, the field 

 jnelding an average of 50 bushels machine measure to the acre. 



The clover was sown broadcast on May 5, and then lightly harrowed 

 in. Before the tenth of the month, the first sprouts had appeared on 

 each of the 22 plats. 



After the removal of the nurse crop, no subsequent treatment was 

 given the field during the growing season of 1904. Despite the fact 

 that an unusual growth was made by the clover before wintering 

 in, it was neither clipped nor pastured, on account of the uncer- 

 tainty as to the effect this would have on the plats coming tlu-ough 

 the winter. The growth left on the field formed an excellent binder 

 for holding the snow. This gave the plants a good protection from 

 the cold during the winter, which in this latitude is ver^^ rigorous. 



Observations made in October, about the time of the frost which 

 terminated growth for the season, showed, as in the case of Nebraska, 



95 



