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Missouri Agricultural Report. 



vigorously that the sorrel cannot exist will kill it out. In this case the 

 top-dressing of manure has accomplished this result completely by pro- 

 ducing a perfect stand and maintaining it. 



To the right of the picture will be noted a narrow strip of clover 

 which dwindles out to almost nothing. If the picture had been ex- 

 tended a little further to the right it would have shown a narrow patch 

 of clover which gradually disappears and which marks the path of the 

 farmer as he was driving away from the scene of action, and some of 

 the manure sifted down through the "dump boards" or rough wagon 

 bed in which the manure had been hauled. As far as this sifting pro- 



Fig. 2. A covering of straw spread on wheat ground after seeding. Tlic purpose of this is 



to insure a stand of clover. 



cess continues the clover follows the path of the wagon, but as the 

 manure gives out the clover entirely disappears. 



This very pronounced condition found on a poor knob of a run- 

 down farm is an eloquent appeal for the continuance of live stock and 

 more manure, better cared for and applied. One farmer was not far 

 wrong in his answer to the question often used in making these studies, 

 "Do you have any trouble in getting a stand of clover?" when he 

 replied, ' ' Not since the manure spreader came on the farm. " It is need- 

 less to say that he top-dressed all of his wheat ground carefully when- 

 ever he expected to sow clover. It might be added that in general 

 practice this is done immediately after the wheat is sown in the fall, or 

 during the early part of the winter. 



