CULTIVATION OF GRASSES. 215 



crop of the large clover is not cut until it is in full blossom, 

 the season hardly suffices for a second crop to mature its 

 seed. The southern clover may be fed till the 20th June, 

 or the first crop taken by the 25th or 28th, and the sec- 

 ond or seed crop will come to perfect maturity, in ordi- 

 nary seasons, before the autumnal frosts. The white 

 clover is not sown to the extent it deserves to be. Being 

 a perennial plant, and grateful to all kinds of farm-stock, 

 its continuance in meadow and pasture grounds renders 

 it highly valuable, both for hay and grazing. It does not 

 seem to intrude upon the taller grasses, but will occupy 

 every vacant space, and add essentially to the value of 

 the crop. It is universally valued and admired ; then 

 why not sow it more generally ? 



The soil best adapted to the growth of red clover, ( T. 

 pratense and T. medium^) to which we shall hereafter con- 

 fine our remarks, is a deep, sandy loam, or other soils 

 which will admit freely the long tap-roots to extend down- 

 wards ; but they will grow in any soil, provided it be dry. 

 Calcareous soils are also peculiarly congenial to clover ; 

 and the application of gypsum upon soils sensitive to its 

 influence, will call into action the seeds, which before 

 would seem to have lain dormant, for want of this stimu- 

 lus, or specific food. 



The usual time of sowing clover-seed is in the spring, 

 if with a spring crop, before the last harrowing ; or upon 

 winter grain in March or April, when the field will bear 

 cattle without poaching the ground, followed by a light 

 harrow or roller. Let no one fear to injure his grain by 

 harrowing it in the spring. The harrow or roller eftects 

 a material benefit, by breaking the crust which is gener- 

 ally perceptible on the appearance of dry weather, in the 

 spring, closing the innumerable cracks which are caused 

 by the contraction of the soil, and in pressing down, and 

 even covering the crowns of the plants. Harrowing win- 

 ter grain in the spring has long been a general practice in 

 the north of Germany, and the practice would not have 

 been persisted in had it not been found beneficial. Clo- 

 ver-seeds are sometimes sown with the autumn crop, in 

 September or October ; though this practice is not to be 



