FORAGE CROPS. 379 



It seems hardly necessary, in a book of directions for practical 

 farmers, to tell how clover is grown ; but as the crop is not univer- 

 sally grown, the information may be of value to some of my 

 readers. 



Clover is never (so far as I know) grown alone. It is bene- 

 fited during its earliest growth by being sheltered from the sun and 

 wind, and it takes a better hold of the ground when sown with 

 oats or barley, or other spring grain, or among the standing plants 

 of wheat or rye. The seed is sown broadcast on the surface as 

 early as possible in the spring, (even on the snow in March,) or 

 immediately after the harrowing in of spring grain. It is suffi- 

 ciently covered by subsequent rains. Indeed, it seems hardly to 

 require covering at all, and it takes root in the compact soil of a 

 wheat-field, which has been beaten hard by the rains of a whole 

 winter. 



After the grain has been mowed, the clover (with a moderate 

 amount of rain) grows vigorously, and will, on rich land, attain a 

 height of a foot or more. Under such circumstances, it should 

 be fed down sufficiently to allow the free access of the sun and 

 air to the soil, that the roots may become well established and the 

 growth stocky. In this condition, it will much better withstand 

 the vicissitudes of an open winter, which is its greatest enemy. 



In latitudes where the snow lies on the ground throughout the 

 season, there is no trouble from v/inter-killing, but when this pro- 

 tection is not to be depended on, it is well to top-dress the plants 

 with sea-weed, strawy manure, or other rubbish. For manure, 

 clover asks little else than ground plaster, or gypsum, and of this 

 so small 3 quantity as a single bushel per acre will suffice, if it be 

 sown evenly (on the plants rather than on the ground) when the 

 leaves are wet with dew or with a misty rain. 



The amount of seed used on an acre is from one peck to four 

 pecks, and I am by no means certain that the larger amount is not 

 the more profitable, — costly though clover-seed is. 



Under the " soiling " system, and indeed on all farms where the 

 highest cultivation is the rule, it will be found best to crop the 

 clover but a single year, cutting three times during the summer, 



