286 ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE RED CLOVER. 



shall have a space of nearh^ twenty-eight square inches around 

 each plant. 



3i'd, Before clover can he successfully cultivated on wet, 

 or even damp land, it must he drained ; first, hecause clover 

 delights in a dry soil ; and secondly, when the frost expands 

 the moist soil in contact with the neck of the plant, it is left 

 hare alter the thaw arrives, and is therefore more liahle to 

 he destro3'ed hy the next frost. 



4th, If clover is too closely cut down, it is left without the 

 leaves, its natural protection ; and, if the frost is afterwards 

 severe, it is sure to he destroyed. 



5th, Mowing- is ohjectionahle to a certain extent, for the 

 same reason. When the crop is cut with the sickle, a larger 

 amount of stuhhle and foliage are left upon the ground for 

 protection. 



Gth, These precautions are necessary to have a sufficient 

 numher of jdants in the ground in spring ; hut it is clear 

 that the future crop must also depend on the amount of the 

 proper nourishment contained in the soil, and the facility 

 with which it can he appropriated by the plants in every 

 stage of their growth ; for, if stinted before the tillering- 

 commences, fewer stems will l)e thrown out, sometimes only 

 two or three, and often, when food is more plentiful, as many 

 as a dozen, and all of them more luxuriant. From this 

 cause, the crop may either be one-fourth the weight, or four 

 times that amount, as was well illustrated in the case of Mr. 

 Maxwell's (of Gribton) crop, -which had not received more 

 than 3 lb. of seed to the acre ; but, from the improvement 

 ■which he had effected, nourishment of every kind was abun- 

 dant ; and the extraordinary manner in which the plants 

 tillered in consequence, furnishes us with a satisfactory ex- 

 ])lanation as to the uncommon weight of crop from so small 

 a quantity of seed. 



7th, It must also be evident that the practice of eating 

 down the second crop with sheep must have a much greater 

 tendency to maintain the soil in a favourable condition for 

 the growth of clover, than when the practice of carrying it 

 off tlie land to be consumed was more generally prevalent. 



8th, We recommend with very much confidence thorough- 

 draining and trench-ploughing, as the most efficacious reme- 

 dies which can he resorted to for restoring to its original 

 fertility land Avhich has become clover-sick. 



Trans, of the High, and Agric. Soc. of Scotland, July 1816. 



