CIvOVKR CULTURE. 23 



this writing, July i5th, there is no apparent difference in the 

 vigor of the sowings." 



For two years past we have called attention of the farm- 

 ers of the West through the Homestead 'to this important mat- 

 ter, and their experience as reported from time to time largely 

 pletely verifies the results of the experiment above quoted. 

 The most successful clover growers in the West, and especial- 

 ly in the light soils of the Missouri valley, sow their clover 

 with their spring grain and give it the same depth of cover- 

 ing. The almost universal custom is to cover either with the 

 ordinary corn cultivator or with the disc cultivator, which in 

 farm practice would give clover a covering of from one-fourth 

 of an inch to two inches. The results of their experience, 

 however, are not uniform, the failures being the exception, 

 and success the rule. As an example of the very rare excep- 

 tions we give the following from Mr. George Geary, of Win- 

 terset, Iowa. In response to a letter of inquiry Mr. Geary 

 writes: 



4 'In the spring of 1892 I sowed a field to clover about ten 

 days before sowing the oats. The oats were sown about the 

 3rd or 4th of April. It was disced twice, after the oats were 

 sown and then harrowed twice. I can not tell how deep it 

 was covered. The oats, however, all grew and none of the 

 clover except at the head-lands, which were not so well culti- 

 vated, where a few plants appeared. On the head-lands the 

 clover was not sown until after the discing was done. It was 

 then harrowed and floated. After giving the matter full con- 

 sideration I think the trouble was not in the deep covering, 

 but because the clover sod had sprouted before the ground 

 was cultivated, and this cultivation destroyed it. If this were 

 not the case, some of it would have grown, no matter how 

 deeply it was covered." 



It is therefore extremely doubtful whether even in this 

 case the failure of the stand in this field was due to the deep 

 covering or to the fact that the clover had sprouted and was 

 then destroyed by the tillage. It should be stated in this con- 

 nection that many farmers who harrow in clover in corn 

 stalks sow the clover seed a week or two in advance, and 

 where the. covering is not so deep as that practiced by Mr. 

 Geary they have had good success. The advantage in sow- 

 ing in advance is that it gives the clover time to take up 

 moisture and swell and secures a quicker germination than 

 when sowed with the oats or spring grain. In case bf dry 

 weather at the time of cultivation, it might prove hazardous. 



