THE ARTIFICIAL GRASSES. 193 



They may be grown alone or mixed with the natural 

 grasses. 



675. Red clover is one of the most valuable and 

 economical of forage plants. Its long tap-roots loosen 

 the soil and let in the air, while by their chemical action 

 they fix gases which enrich the earth very much. The 

 decay of them in the ground also fertilizes it, and the 

 plant shades and protects the surface, and helps to destroy 

 many annual weeds. 



G76. Clover is what may be called a lime plant, and 

 the soils best adapted to it are clayey or tenacious loams. 

 It generally does well on good wheat lands. Recent 

 investigations have shown that lime enters largely, into its 

 composition. 



677. White or Dutch clover is as common as the red, 

 and often forms a considerable portion of the turf of 

 pastures of a moist and tenacious soil. It is most 

 commonly cultivated for pasturage, and many think it to 

 be as valuable for that purpose as red clover is for hay, 

 or for soiling or feeding out green to stock ; but cattle 

 are not so fond of it. 



678. Neither lucerne nor sainfoin are cultivated in 

 this country. The former has been found to be ill- 

 adapted to our climate, suffering severely in the southern 

 States from long continued droughts, and as severely in 

 the northern from the low temperature and the sudden 

 changes of winter. 



