i62 ■ Missouri Agricultural Uepori. 



for one clipping. If the conditions are favorable in this respect, and 

 the seed is sown rather early in spring, even after one clipping, a good 

 crop of hay or seed can usually be cut sometime during August or early 

 September. If hay is cut and the crop not allowed to go to seed the field 

 can be left in clover another year. 



Lime applied in ilie rotation. — Without the presence of a certain 

 amount of lime in the soil, no matter what the rotation may be or how 

 thorough the method of seeding, the clover crop will not do well. Most 

 soils, however, in limestone and limestone-glaciated regions, usually have 

 an abundance of this element to grow clover successfully. But again, there 

 are other soils, such as are found in sandstone and shale regions, which 

 were not abundantly supplied with lime in the beginning or in their 

 virgin state. When such soils have been farmed for many years the 

 numerous crops, and more particularly those of clover, have drawn 

 heavily on this supply and in many instances have reduced it to the 

 point where a full crop of clover cannot be grown. In extreme cases, 

 even though manure be applied, it will produce perhaps only a half 

 crop or less as compared with the same land on which lime is suj^plied 

 with the manure, or preferably in advance of it. Nothing can take the 

 place of lime in some form where lime is really needed, and there seems 

 to be no way out of it but to apply the lime to the soil. 



This condition, however, may vary on different farms in the same 

 community on the same soil formation, depending on the treatment given 

 and the kind of farming carried on in the past. It is always well, there- 

 fore, to make sure that this need is apparent, and the only test which a 

 farmer should consult in this is to make an application of lime on small 

 sections of a field at different rates (perhaps a half ton, a ton, and one 

 and a half tons per acre) and see for himself whether it produces an 

 increased growth. If ground limestone is used in place of lime the 

 amounts should be doubled. If it gives results then it is safe to plan 

 for further and more extensive applications to the rest of the area that is 

 in a similar condition, at the rate indicated as necessary by the test. If, 

 however, the results cannot be detected between the clover where the 

 lime was applied and where it M^as not, even at the heaviest rate, it is 

 fairly good evidence that it will not pay to use it. If it is found un- 

 profitable it is poor business to use it, but if it is found that lime is 

 really needed it is likewise very poor business not to use it, and its ap- 

 plication should not be delayed. 



After the first preliminary experimenting with lime to ascertain 

 its value, in general practice it is best to apply lime on the corn ground, 

 whether the rotation is that with wheat, rye or oats for a nurse crop. 



