Chap. X. O F C L O V E R. 365 



horizontal rbots. Yet it is a queflion with farmers, whether the 

 additional weight of grafs which the rye-grafs yields, does not coun- 

 terbalance thefe di (advantages. 



This plant is reckoned much better fodder for moft other cattle, 

 than for milch cows ; wherefore thefe fliould feldoni have any of it ; 

 tho' when rt is dry, it is not near fo hurtful to any fort of beails, as 

 when green. 



When the feeds cJf clover are defigned to be faved, the firil crop 

 in the ipring fliould be let ftand till they are ripe, which is known 

 by the ftalks and heads changing to a brown colour : and then the 

 clover fliould be cut in fair weather, and be well dried before it is 

 laid up ; for otherwife the feeds will not eafily quit the hufks, when 

 it isthreihed. To this is owing a common complaint of fanners, 

 ihat they oftentimes cannot threlh out their clover-feed without great 

 labour and dithculty. It will generally be found in this cafe ; that 

 thefe are fecond crops, which ripen late in autumn, when there is 

 not heat enough to dry the hufks fufliciently to make them part 

 c*fily from the feed. 



The white clover, generally known amongft farmers by the name 

 of white honey fuckle, is a lafting plant, whole branches trail upon 

 the ground, and fend out roots from every Joint, fo that it thickens' 

 and makes the clofeft fward of any of the artificial graffes. It is an 

 rxceeding fweet food for all forts of cattle : for which reafon, when 

 land is defign'd to be laid down for pafture, and to continue fo, a 

 quantity of the feeds of this plant flioiild always be fown with the 

 grafs feeds. The ufual allowance of this feed, is eight pounds to an 

 acre: but it fliould never be fown with corn; becaufe the corn 

 will weaken it fo that it will fcarce be worth flanding. And yet, as 

 Mr. Miller dbferves, fuch is the covetoufnefs of moll farmers, that 

 they will not be prevailed on to alter their old cuftom of laying down 

 their grounds with a crop of corn; though they lofe twice the value 

 of their corn, by the poornefs of the grafs, which never will come 

 to a good fward ; and one whole feafon is alfo lofl ; for if this feed 

 is fown in the fpring without corn, there will be a crop of hay to 

 mow by the middle, or latter end of July, and a much better after- 

 feed for cattle the following autumn and winter, than the grafs which 

 ■is fown with corn will produce the fecond year. 



The author off the yieiv fyjlem of agrlcidtiire agrees with Mr. Mil- 

 ler, that clover fhould be fown in autumn, and always by itfelf, on 

 land brought to the fineft tilth polTible, and clear'd of all fibrous 



roots. 



