GRASSES AND CLOVERS TOGETHER . 19 



ful supply and so of lesser importance in considering the 

 fertility of a soil). These elements are phosphorus, po- 

 tassium, nitrogen and calcium. It is notable that soils 

 seem to select their plants, or vice versa. One finds in a 

 certain soil one type of grasses, in 'another soil a very dif- 

 ferent type. Where lime abounds, with phosphorus, po- 

 tassium and nitrogen, one sees the Kentucky bluegrass 

 occupying all the land, no other species being able to main- 

 tain a foothold. In- a soil poorer in lime and phosphorus 

 Canada bluegrass will be found, and where lime is mark- 

 edly deficient with also a scarcity of other mineral ele- 

 ments (they usually go together) redtop predominates. 



Clovers gather nitrogen from the air through the ac- 

 tion of bacteria that inhabit their roots. Grasses have 

 no such affinity for bacteria, and no means of gathering 

 nitrogen. Grasses feed largely on nitrogen and soon take 

 it out of the soil when kept closely cropped or mown off 

 for hay. 



GRASSES AND CLOVERS SHOULD BE GROWN TOGETHER. 



Because clovers have power to provide nitrogen they 

 and the grasses should always be grown together. In- 

 deed, this is nature's way. There is commonly seen in 

 nature an intermixture of plants and none more perfect 

 or adapted to good ends than the mixture of grasses with 

 clovers. One often sees an old pasture become thin and 

 the grasses somewhat feeble, then white clover appears 

 and overruns it. The clover finds mineral elements suffi- 

 cient and the grasses weak and off their guard. After the 

 clover has grown well there for a time the soil is filled 

 with nitrogen once more and then the grasses spring up 

 with renewed vigor and the clover is subdued and nearly 



