576 



FARMERS' REGISTER— SOWING CLOVER SEED. 



ON THE BIANNER AM) TIME FOR SOWING CI.O- 

 VER SEED. 



To the Editor of the Farmers' Eegister. 



In con.«equence of my reading an increnious ar- 

 ticle in the first volume of the Register, (page 566,) 

 on sowing clover seed, I was induced last spring 

 to try one of the experiments therein recommend- 

 ed. Three beds extending quite through a large 

 field were harrowed previously to their being 

 sown. Two of them were rolled after the seed 

 had been applied — the third not. Between these 

 beds I observed no difference. I cannot therefore 

 say whether or no the rolling would generally be 

 of any use. Perhaps it may have been owing to 

 the subsequent state of the weather that no dif- 

 ference was perceptible. Theoretically, I should 

 certainly prefer rolling, for the sake both of the 

 wheat and the clover. Between the three beds, 

 however, and the land on each side, there was a 

 striking and gratifying difference during the whole 

 year. They could be traced after harvest, with 

 the eye, at the distance of several hundred yards, 

 by their superior verdure and luxuriance, through- 

 out their whole extent. A nearer inspection show- 

 ed that they were much more thickly set than the 

 neighboring beds, on which the same quantity of 

 seed had been put. The success of the experi- 

 ment is as complete as can be inferred from a sin- 

 gle trial: to me it is conclusive. I think an im- 

 portant consequence may be deduced from this 

 plan that did not occur to its author — I mean the 

 estimated saving of one-fourth of the usual quan- 

 tity of seed, with greater certaintj- of success, and 

 regularity of distribution, than in the common 

 way with the more liberal allowance. It needs 

 but little reflection to form some idea of the im- 

 mense advantage that would thus result to an ex- 

 tensive region, lor which nearly the whole supply 

 of this article has to be purchased from a distance. 

 The ordinary mode of sowing clover seed on a 

 hard surface, and then leaving it uncovered to 

 take its chance, is liable to many objections. 

 Much seed is lost: it is irregularly distributed — 

 the plants frequently growing in hunches, and not 

 unfrequently failing altogether. But little land is 

 so neatly prepared as not to have numerous ine- 

 qualities. The seed is liable to roll, or be washed 

 into the small cavities or depressions, while the 

 eminences are either not at all, or only scantily 

 supplied; and the few seeds that may remain and 

 vegetate in those situations, are exposed to injury 

 from drought or frost, or both. By previously har- 

 rowing, the seed sticks where it is deposited; and 

 even if not rolled, it soon gets covered by the 

 settling of the loose earth, from rain and other 

 causes. 



T have taken some pains to learn the opinions 

 and practice of intelligent farmers in regard to the 

 management of clover seed. The result of these 

 inquiries, briefly stated, may not be amiss. One 

 gentleman, as remarkable lor agricultural, as was 

 a certain scourge of llie Philistines of old fur phy- 

 sical strength, prefers sowing in Januar}': another, 

 whose conclusions are not often wrong, the early 

 part of Februar}', which he considers so fir pre- 

 ferable ev-en to the latter part of the same month 

 as to justify one's paj-ing, if necessary, double 

 price for the seed: he mixes the requisite quantity 

 of seed for each acre, with one bushel of damp 

 saw dust; and piasters in the month of April, 

 when the plants are weW up. A third gentleman, 



