57 



^vi(ll the wheel liarrow, iheii iiiaimre or fertilize hotli ])l(>ts 

 alike and heavily, and plant table beets. If the soil is sour, 

 these beets will grow nuich better on the plot to which the lime 

 has been applied than on the other, and it is safe to conclude 

 that a heavy application of lime will be essential before clovers 

 will flourish. If the experiment indicates that lime is essen- 

 tial, it will probably l)e needed at about the rate of 1 ton to 

 the acre ; the weight referred to to be taken before slacking. 

 If air-slacked lime is used, II/2 tons to the acre will not be too 

 nmch. The best season for applying lime is autumn or early 

 spring. As a rule, it should be spread upon the plowed land 

 and deeply worked in W'ith the disc harrow. 



2. The Use of Much Manure inexpedient. — The writer is 

 aware that splendid clover is often grown where the land is 

 heavily dressed with manure. He is not disposed to deny the 

 possibility of producing fine crops of clover on manure alone. 

 He would, nevertheless, urge that manure alone be not de- 

 pended upon as a means of enriching clover land. The lead- 

 ing and most valuable element of plant food in manures is 

 nitrogen. The application of this for clovers in any consid- 

 erable amounts is unnecessary. If clovers are grown on ma- 

 nures, they will feed upon the nitrogen in the manure; they 

 will not draw from the air for that element. Growing clover 

 upon manures, therefore, is not the best economy. Moreover, 

 it is important to point out that the grasses with which clover 

 is most generally grown are greatly invigorated by heavy 

 dressings of manure. A strong, rank growth of the timothy 

 and redtop will tend to crowd out the clover. Fine crops of 

 hay may be produced, but it will not be clover hay, nor rich 

 in clover. The writer would not be understood as urging that 

 manure should never be used on land which is being prepared 

 for clover, although he would strongly advise against top- 

 dressing clover with manure. On soil which is naturally poor 

 in nitrogen, manure may wisely be used in moderate amounts 

 for crops preceding clover. Heavy dressings would be a 

 mistake. It is far better to use the manure in only moderate 

 or small amounts, and to use it in connection with materials 

 which will supply lime, phosphates and potash. 



