ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE RED CLOVER. 275 



3 cwt. of guano, and consequently we must give it 9 

 cwt. of guano before the desired effect is produced. Again, 

 we have medicines which are quick to operate, and vice 

 versa; it is the same with manures: therefore, I cannot 

 condemn those that have not yielded me profit this year. 

 I shall see what next year does ; perhaps they may yield 

 double crops, and for years to come, when the more stimu- 

 lant sorts are exhausted. I have at times applied lime with 

 the g'reatest success, especially on stiff cold land. (This, on 

 which the experiment was made, I may mention, is of a 

 gTavelly flinty nature, with a chalk bottom.) Part of the 

 failure in the lime 1 attribute to its being" put on late ; but 

 still it was on before the g-rass had made any growth. I 

 may also state, that Avhere the guano was applied, the hay 

 was of very superior quality, and fit for cutting three weeks 

 before the others, which would have insured a good second 

 crop by this time, as it is now in advance of the others. 

 IVext year I mean to try the manure water; but as the 

 quantity will be limited, I must have other manures as well. 

 Perhaps some of your correspondents will be kind enough, 

 through the medium of your paper, to state what with them 

 has ])roved the most beneficial, also the quantity applied, 

 and the mode of applying it, vtc. 



United Gardeners' and Land-Stewards' Journal. 



Art. LXII.— on THE CULTIVATION OF THE RED CLOVER, 

 AND THE CAUSES OF ITS FAILURE. 



By Robert ]McTurk, Esq., Hastings Hall, Dumfriesshire. 



[Ill considering this subject, Mr. McTurk reviews the different opinions 

 that have been maintained as to tlie cause of the gradual deterioration 

 which ensues, when the same variety of crops has been cultivated on the 

 same field for a number of years consecutively, or even at short intervals. 

 For although this condition has been more apparent — or more closely 

 observed of late years in its relation to the red clover than to any other 

 crop— it is one of more general bearing, involving, in fact, a fundamental 

 principle of vegetable phj'siology, whose influence is co-extensive with the 

 whole vegetable kingdom. We shall only name the theories noticed by 

 the author of this Essay, in order that we may pass to its more strictly 

 practical portion. 



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