MANURING AND FERTILIZING 



Where the clovers grow well they make ex- 

 cellent cover crops as well as green manure 

 crops. The chief difficulty with them is that 

 of obtaining a good stand in a dry midsummer. 

 The mammoth red and the medium red clovers 

 are probably the best of their genus on the 

 heavier soils, while crimson clover is best on 

 sandy soils and where it will grow, on the 

 lighter gravel loams. The latter is especially 

 well adapted to building up run down sandy 

 soils. Although it is somewhat easier to secure 

 a stand of this clover, alsike does not grow rank 

 enough to make a good cover or green manure 

 crop. Most clovers are deep rooted plants 

 and therefore great soil improvers physically 

 as well as being great nitrogen gatherers. The 

 amounts of seed required per acre for the differ- 

 ent kinds are about as follows: mammoth fif- 

 teen to twenty pounds; red (medium) twelve to 

 fifteen pounds; crimson twelve to fifteen 

 pounds; and alsike ten to twelve pounds. 



Where it can be readily and successfully 

 grown alfalfa is really a better cover and 

 green manure crop than the clovers. It 

 is deeper rooted, makes a better top growth, 

 and therefore adds more nitrogen and more 

 humus to the soil than the clovers. It cannot 



83 



