65 



Spring Seeding. 



The clovers are sown in spring in cither one of two sys- 

 tems. First, it is common practice to scatter clover seed in 

 very early spring on the surface of fields which have been 

 seeded the previous fall either wuth grain or grasses. Under 

 these conditions the soil cannot be freshly prepared, nor can 

 the seed be covered. As might be expected, therefore, germ- 

 ination is less perfect than under more favorable conditions. 

 When, however, the weather conditions are just right, a fair 

 degree of success is attained by seeding in this way. It is 

 usually best to defer sowing until the winter's frost is out of 

 the ground. Results are most satisfactory when the seed 

 can be sown on a lightly frozen surface which is somewhat 

 honeycombed with the night's frost. If as this frost comes 

 out of the ground, or soon after it comes out, there should 

 chance to come a rain, the seed is much of it carried into the 

 soil, and will usually germinate promptly and quite perfectly. 

 Owing to the fact, however, that we are by no means certain 

 to experience these ideal conditions, there is considerable risk 

 in seeding with clover in accordance with this plan. It 

 should be recognized, moreover, that, even if the seed germ- 

 inates wellj the clover sown in this way on land seeded to 

 grass the previous fall makes but little showing in the crop 

 of the succeeding season. 



Second, the land may be plowed as early in spring as it can 

 be worked, and the clover sowai either alone or in connection 

 with grass seeds, with or wdthout grain as a nurse crop. 

 Clovers sown in this way usually start well, but, whether they 

 be sown with grain as a nurse crop or not, they are subject 

 to peculiar risk and injury during the summer. If sown with 

 grain as a nurse crop, this must be harvested usually during 

 July. If sown alone, there will usually be a considerable 

 growth of weeds, and these also, in order to prevent ripening 

 of seed, must be cut at about the same time. The clover 

 which has previously been shaded either by grain or weeds 

 is in poor condition to stand full exposure to the hot sun 

 of midsummer, and unless rains come within a short time 

 after it is thus exposed, much of it is often killed. This 

 method of seeding, then, leaves much to be desired. 



