72 FORAGE CROPS. 



clover, since the shade they furnish is less dense than 

 that of some other crops; and the shade is sooner 

 removed, as they are harvested early. The two first 

 named cereals also admit of early sowing. Spring 

 wheat and oats shade the seed overmuch, but of the 

 two spring wheat is more suitable than oats as a 

 nurse crop. Flax does not provide a dense shade, 

 hence it would sometimes answer well as a nurse 

 crop but for the reason that the later season at which 

 it is sown makes a "catch" of the seed more hazard- 

 ous to obtain. 



Some authorities advocate sowing clover alone ; 

 that is to say, sowing it as the sole crop on the land. 

 There may be some instances where it may be wise 

 to adopt this plan, more especially where it is diffi- 

 cult to get a stand of clover because of the dearth of 

 moisture. It is at least questionable if this method 

 of sowing clover will ever be very generally prac- 

 ticed, and for the following reasons : First, it is 

 not necessary in moist climates ; second, the growth 

 of weeds is apt to crowd the clover plants more than 

 a nurse crop of grain would; and, third, on some 

 soils, especially stiff clays, the shade furnished by 

 the nurse crop when young is advantageous to the 

 clover plants while in the early stage of growth. It 

 would seem to be a better way where there is a fight 

 for moisture between the nurse crop and the clover, 

 to sow the clover along with oats, using not more 

 than half the usual quantity of the seed of the oats 

 per acre. Oats are mentioned because of the use 

 that can be made of them for hay when they are har- 

 vested. They should be harvested as soon as the 

 heads are fully out, and sometimes even earlier, that 

 more moisture may be left for the clover, and that 



