64 



the slag and bone meal or the ]iolash salts a moderate amonnt 

 of nitrate of soda is employed ; and experiments in Amherst 

 indicate that from 150 to 200 pounds per acre of this salt 

 in connection with the other materials seem to be as large 

 an amonnt as in seasons with abundant rainfall may profit- 

 ably be used on strong and retentive soils. On the lighter 

 soils the niti'ate may without doubt be more largely employed 

 with profit. 



In top-dressing permanent mowings, whether with the slag 

 meal or bone and potash alone or with these materials in 

 connection with nitrate, it is the ])ractice at Amherst to mix 

 the materials and to apply the mixture about the first of May. 

 There can be little doubt that the slag and the potash salt 

 will do the crop of the succeeding season more good if ap- 

 plied in the autumn; but applying them at this time would 

 mean going over the ground twice, — once with the mixture 

 of slag and potash and once with the nitrate. It would, more- 

 over, be found difficult to apply the small quantity of nitrate 

 evenly by itself; and it seems doubtful, therefore, whether 

 in the long run better results will not be secured by applying 

 the mixture of all the materials in the spring. 



Seeding to Clover. 



As has been pointed out, it is almost invariably best in 

 general farming to sow the clovers in mixture with grasses. 

 Clovers growing alone are not likely to stand up well. If 

 sown in mixture with a stout growing grass, such as timothy 

 or orchard grass, the clovers retain their upright position 

 much better than when growing alone. If, however, for any 

 purpose it is considered desiral)le to sow clovers alone, the 

 following quantities of seed per acre will usually be suf- 

 ficient : ^ — 



Pounds. 



Red clover, 15 



Mammoth clover, ........ 20 



Alsike clover, 12 



White clovei', ......... 8 



' For seed mixturos for various purposes see article on " Hay crop lu INIassachu- 

 setts." 



