THE GRASSES, MEADOWS, ETC. 121 



clover and lime in connection, has carried up the price of 

 many extensive tracts of land, from $10 to $50 per acre, 

 and has enabled the occupant to raise large crops of wheat, 

 where he could get only small crops of rye ; and |fc has fre- 

 quently increased his crop of wheat three-fold, where it had 

 been previously an object of attention. 



It is a common observation of intelligent farmers, that 

 they are never at a loss to renovate such lands as will pro- 

 duce even a moderate crop of clover. Poor clay lands have 

 been brought to a clover-bearing state, by sowing an early 

 and late crop of oats in the same season, and feeding them 

 off on the ground. Poor, sandy soils may be made to sus- 

 tain clover, with the aid of manure, ashes and gypsum, com- 

 bined with the free use of the roller. This object is much 

 facilitated by scattering dry straw over the surface, which 

 affords shade, increases the deposit of dew, and prolongs 

 its effects. Whenever the period of clover-producing is at- 

 tained, the improvement of the soil may be pushed, with a 

 rapidity commensurate with the inclination and means of 

 the owner. 



Harvesting Clover Seed. After taking off one crop, or 

 pasturing the field till June, or to such time as experience 

 shows to be the most proper, the clover should be kept un- 

 molested, to mature a full crop of seed. Early mowing re- 

 moves the first weeds, and the second growth of the clover 

 is so rapid, as to smother them and prevent their seeding, 

 and the clover is thus saved comparatively clean. It is then 

 mown and raked into very small cocks, and when dried at 

 the top, they are turned completely over without breaking ; 

 and as soon as well dried, they may be carried to the 

 threshing floor, and the seeds beaten out with sticks, light 

 flails, or with a threshing machine. 



An instrument with closely-set teeth and drawn by a 

 horse, is sometimes used for collecting the clover heads from 

 the standing stalks, from which the seed is afterwards sepa- 

 rated. If wanted for use on the farm, these heads are some- 

 times sown without threshing. The calyx of the clovers is 

 so firmly attached to the seed, as to be removed with diffi 

 culty ; but if thrown into a heap after threshing, and gently 

 pressed together, a slight fermentation takes place, and the 

 seed is afterwards readily cleaned. A fan or clover machine 

 may be used for cleaning the seed for market. The pro- 

 duce is from three to six bushels per acre, which is worth to 

 the farmer, from $3 to $5 per bushel, of 60 pounds. 

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