GRASSES AND CLOVER. 135 



unless some better material is used to top out, and those who 

 expect to use much of it should provide barracks for it if they 

 have not barn room. Salt as it is put into the mow, as it will 

 render it more palatable to the stock. Over-salting is injurious, 

 and I would recommend not more than one gallon to the ton. 



Time to Sow. As a rule, I think the best results will be 

 had from early seeding say about the first half of March. If, 

 however, the farmer sows his seed in the chaff, as is the custom 

 with many, it may be sown in February, as the seed, when 

 inclosed in the hull, does not germinate so soon, and the young 

 germ is somewhat protected. If the farmer will harrow his 

 wheat, so as to loosen the surface a little, the seeding can be 

 safely postponed to a later date, and any time the first half of 

 April is seasonable. When seeding with spring grain smooth off 

 the field with the plank-drag (a cut of which you will find in the 

 chapter on corn) before sowing, and, unless a rain falls within 

 two or three days, run over the field again with the drag. I am 

 seeding more heavily of late years than formerly, as I am con- 

 vinced that it is profitable. The testimony of a man who was for 

 many years in charge of a clover-hulling machine is that the 

 heaviest yields of seed are where the land was seeded at the 

 rate of ten pounds to the acre, and I think this none too much, 

 but, on fresh, loose land, or that which had been well top-dressed 

 with manure, I should expect a good stand from a less quantity 

 of seed. When the land is not to be harrowed I prefer to sow 

 on frozen ground, on a clear morning, when there is likely to be 

 a thaw, as this settles the seed and covers it, so that it is 

 not likely to be washed into bunches by a rain. 



It would be of great advantage if clover could be sown in the 

 corn with a certainty of getting a stand, and this is often done. 

 My own experience, however, has not been favorable to this 

 method, as I have found that I often failed to get a stand. Other 

 farmers have been more successful, and it would be so great an 

 advantage to be able to seed our corn fields with clover, that I 

 would advise every farmer to try experiments to ascertain the 

 best time and manner of seeding in the corn-field. I would try 

 sowing in July when the corn was worked the last time, and also 



