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to widely different jiurposes, may be i)i-oduced. Foreign 

 countries are ahead of us in this direction ; and on the ex- 

 periment station farm at Amherst there is now a considerable 

 collection of varieties of clovers, — of the red, alsike and 

 white species respectively. The different varieties exhibit 

 wide differences one from the other, and some of them have 

 great apparent promise. These varieties of clovers have not 

 been under trial sufficiently long to justify sending out any 

 of them, but it is among the possibilities of the near future 

 that we shall have highly improved types of the different 

 leading species of clovers, — types which are suited to vary- 

 ing conditions or to different purposes. Meanwhile, in con- 

 clusion upon this to])ic, the intelligent clover grower is urged 

 to keep his eyes open for promising plants, and, finding them, 

 either to propagate from them himself, or to send them to the 

 experiment station, where they Avill be given careful trial. 



The Conditions Essential for tue Most Successful, 

 AND Profitable Growth of the Clovers. 



1. Soil C onditions. — Successful clover growing is impos- 

 sible unless the soil conditions are right. These plants will 

 thrive upon a considerable variety of soils as regards texture 

 and composition, but for the best results a deep, mellow and 

 fairly retentive soil which is well drained is essential. 

 Clovers will absolutely fail if there is any considerable pro- 

 portion of free acid in the soil, or, in farmers' language, if 

 the soil be " sour." If blue litmus paper in contact with 

 moderately moist soil turns red as it absorbs the moisture, 

 this is an indication that the soil is sour ; but the farmer will 

 be wise if, before incurring any considerable expense for the 

 correction of acidity, he makes a careful test for himself. 

 One of the best farmer's tests can be carried out as follows : 

 take two small plots of land in a field supposed to possess 

 " sour " soil, and plow them both. Plots containing about one 

 square rod each will be sufficient. They should, of course, be 

 located in a representative portion of the field. After plow- 

 ing, spread about 20 pounds of builders' lime or R-R agri- 

 cultural lime 0Rt{|ne of the plots. Work this lime in deeply 



