8O SOILING CROPS AND THE SILO. 



the grain. When a less covering is sought, as in 

 sowing under average conditions, the seed is allowed 

 to fall in front of the drill tubes, and when a still 

 lighter covering is desired, as when the seed falls 

 on heavy soils, it is covered by using a roller on the 

 land after the seed has thus been dropped upon its 

 surface. And in yet other instances, as when the 

 soil is quite heavy and ample moisture is assured, 

 the seed thus deposited is frequently allowed to lie 

 unburied. But when a light covering can be secured 

 for clover seed, the germination of the seed is more 

 certain and the ability of the young plants to with- 

 stand dry weather is increased. 



The quantity of seed required will vary with 

 the variety sown, with the richness of the soil, and 

 with the proportion of seed of other grass plants that 

 may be sown along with the clover. When clover 

 is sown alone, from ten to fifteen pounds per acre 

 of the crimson clover are usually sown, but some- 

 times a less quantity, from ten to twelve pounds 

 of the medium red and mammoth species and from 

 four to six pounds of the alsike. The difference in 

 relative quantities sown arises chiefly from the dif- 

 ference in the relative size of the seeds and the 

 difference in the capacity of the plants for stooling. 

 The richer the soil also the less the quantity of the 

 seed required, and the amount of clover that ought 

 to be sown will of course be reduced as grass seeds 

 are added to the seed sown. 



Since clover, when it grows vigorously, is liable 

 to lie down when sown alone, it is considered advan- 

 tageous to sow along with it the seed of some grass, 

 that the grass plants thus produced may sustain the 



