454 On Clovers. 



But the soil and mode of cultivation is a common cause of 

 the so-called clover sickness. On the oolites of the Cotheswolds, 

 on which we have perhaps 4 inches of soil and then the solid 

 rock, we constantly hear of this complaint ; indeed on the 

 College farm of oolitic sand, all the land was said to be clover 

 sick, and so long as the plough was not allowed to go deeper 

 than 4 inches, it undoubtedly was so. But when the impression 

 gained ground that these 4 inches had been worked out, it was 

 determined to use the steam-plough for our roots, to the depth of 

 12 inches, then followed the barley to be succeeded by clover, 

 and the crop referred to of 2J tons of hay to the acre was attri- 

 buted to this method of cultivation. I have now the same 

 promise in another field with the same treatment, and begin to 

 think that deep cultivation for roots is a present cure for clover 

 sickness, and therefore, so far from waiting the prescribed eight 

 years for another crop of clover, I have pursued my own course 

 independently of my predecessor, in each instance eliciting the 

 remark, "Who would have thought it?" 



I look then upon the subject of clover sickness as one de- 

 pendent upon the following precautions : — 



1st. A judicious change and choice of seed. 



We inquire as to the soil whence we get our seed barley and 

 wheat, but whoever asks this with regard to clover ? 



2nd. The rejection, as a rule, of foreign seed, more especially 

 if from a warmer country. 



3rd. Clovers should be self-sown to be perfect, but if sown 

 with grain we should at all events take care to sow clean seeds 

 in clean land ; weeds, added to the hindrance by corn, will be 

 too much for any plant grown in the same way, so that we 

 might call land sick of any crop if similarly treated. 



4th. Deeper cultivation, if only to the extent of three or four 

 inches, for if we go deeper we have fresh capital to draw upon ;. 

 indeed, deep cultivation may be regarded as the renovator of the 

 soil for the present generation. 



Much of the food-producing matter of the soil to the ordi- 

 nary depth of common ploughing has of late been flushed into 

 the sea. It is to be hoped that satisfactory means of stopping 

 this waste will be discovered and promptly acted upon, but 

 meanwhile, the steam-plough may obviate immediate deficiencies.. 



Bradford Alias, 

 Sherlorne. 



