CHAPTER XXI. 

 THE BEST LEGUMINOUS PLANTS. 



RED CLOVER. 



For by far the greater part of the United States it is probable that the 

 most useful nitrogen fixing crop is the red clover, and in all the great grain 

 growing sections the development of the productiveness of the soil depends 

 very largely on the success with which clover can be grown. There has, of 

 late years, been a great deal of complaint all through the Northern States of 

 the difficulty in getting a good stand of clover. We often hear farmers say 

 that their land is "clover sick." Generally the truth is that it is sick for 

 the lack of clover. The success of the microbes on legumes has been found to 

 depend upon the soil being in a weakly alkaline condition. Where the soil 

 is decidedly acid clover will not thrive. If, therefore, it is found that there 

 is difficulty in getting a stand of clover, the soil should be tested for acidity. 

 A piece of blue litmus paper can be had at any drug store; if this is placed 

 in the damp soil, and is found to change to a pinkish color, it may be assumed 

 that there is acidity in the soil, and that a dressing of lime will bring about a 

 change. We once saw a field which had been long known as clover sick on 

 which a dressing of lime at once cured the sickness and clover grew with 

 great luxuriance. 



THE PLACE FOR CLOVER IN A ROTATION. 



This will depend on the character of the farming done, and which of 

 the crops is the money crop of the farm. In growing wheat on a heavy wheat 

 soil there is no doubt that, as a rule, the heaviest crops are grown on a clover 

 sod summer fallowed after the first crop of clover has been cut for hay. 

 Summer fallowing brings matters in the soil into an available state and 

 results generally in a good wheat crop. But whether in the long run it is 



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