24 CLOVER CULTURE 



Mr. Geary's farm lies on the edge of the timber and is, 

 therefore, a muck heavier soil than the prairie lands in the im- 

 mediate vicinity. Besides, it rests on a very heavy bed of 

 limestone, abd the conditions of that farm are somewhat simi- 

 lar to the conditions on the heavy clay soils of the Eastern 

 states. It is not, therefore, surprising that deep covering does 

 not always succeed on that or like conditions even in the 

 West. All this emphasizes the necessity of each farmer, no 

 matter where his location may be, determining by actual ex- 

 periment on his own farm the depth at which clover seed 

 germinates best in an ordinary season. This will vary with 

 the normal amount of rainfall in the spring months and the 

 mechanical condition and character of the soil. The lighter 

 the soil the deeper should clover be covered, and there are 

 many parts of the West in which it should not be placed at 

 less than two inches. 



It must be remembered that in discussing the depths of 

 covering at which clover does best, we are speaking solely 

 with reference to land in cultivation in small grain, and 

 not with reference to land in other grasses, whether wild or 

 tame. A moment's reflection will convince anyone that deep- 

 er covering is required in soil in condition for the reception 

 of small grains than in soil that is already compacted by the 

 weather. For this reason clover requires a much shallower 

 covering when sown on winter wheat or rye than when sown 

 on newly cultivated land, on which spring grain has been sown. 



We have devoted much space to the depth at which red 

 and mammoth clover should be covered when sown with spring 

 grain, for the reason that the proper depth of covering is one 

 of the first conditions of success, and we are persuaded that 

 most failures in growing these clovers have been due to the 

 fact that farmers have not fully comprehended the first prin- 

 'ciples, and thus have failed to apply them to their particular 

 conditions and circumstances. 



Whether common red or mammoth clover should be 

 selected for sowing depends altogether upon the rotation of 

 crops that he has adopted and the objects for which the clover 

 is grown. On good, rich land, where a crop of hay is desired, 

 and where fall pasture is an important consideration, the com- 

 mon red is to be preferred. This is especially the case in regions 

 where there are no insect enemies, such as the clover-root worm, 

 the clover midge, the thrips or the clover hay worm. In the ab- 

 sence of these pests, if it is desirable to secure a crop of clover 

 hay and the question of seed is less important than an abun- 



