MANURES. 87 



and contain more inorganic matter than the foliage. In my 

 own experience, on land that had been cropped until it yielded 

 no profit, I have found that plowing under the second growth of 

 clover, after cutting the first for hay, has given me an increase 

 of ten to fifteen bushels of wheat to the acre, and as good results 

 as a dressing of ten or twelve loads of stable manure to the acre. 

 Farmers of large experience in growing clover seed find that, 

 even when the crop is cut twice (once for hay and then for seed) , 

 the land is greatly benefited, and careful experiment has shown 

 that the greatest development of root comes after the first cut- 

 ting, and while the plant is maturing the seed. 



Harlan, in his book, Farming with Green Manures, not only 

 recommends using the entire crop for manure, but that the clover 

 from four acres be cut and spread on one acre, and left there to 

 rot, and that this cutting and spreading be done two or three 

 times through the season. It seems to me that this would be 

 too expensive manuring, for the crop is generally worth from 

 twelve to twenty dollars per acre, and, in exceptional seasons, 

 even more than this, for food and seed, and the cost of manuring 

 an acre by this plan would often exceed the value of the land. 

 Besides, if the clover was fed to cattle, and the manure properly 

 saved and applied, it would be worth almost as much to the land 

 as if it was all left to rot on the field. Our farmers who have 

 had the most experience with clover, find that they can improve 

 their land by its use while utilizing the crop. Professor Brown, 

 of Indianapolis, writes as follows : 



"In the process of recuperating exhausted soils, clover has 

 long held an important place. In this process it performs its 

 good work by two distinct methods: First, it increases the 

 organic matter in the soil to a greater extent than any other 

 crop; second, it brings within the reach of other crops a large 

 supply of mineral elements. In regard to the first of these 

 statements, we observe the large leaf surface which it exposes 

 to the air, and by which it absorbs carbonic acid that is subse- 

 quently converted into organic matter. From this is formed 

 the large amount of root which is a special characteristic of 

 the red clover. 



