THE CLOVERS 113 



or spring, in which case no special preparation of the seed-bed is necessary. 

 When seeded in this way natural covering results from the freezing and 

 thawing of the ground and the beating of rains. If conditions for spring 

 seeding with wheat necessitate seeding rather late, it is best to harrow 

 the wheat, thus covering the clover seed. * 



When seeded with spring grain the preparation for the grain is generally 

 sufficient for the clover. It will pay, however, to provide a well-prepared 

 seed-bed that will fully meet the needs of clover seed, even though equally 

 thorough preparation is not necessary for the spring grain. A fair degree 

 of compactness and a thorough covering of the seed are desirable. 



Time, Manner, Rate and Depth of Seeding. In all regions of moderate 

 to severe winters, winter or spring seeding is advisable, except when 

 clover may be seeded in midsummer without a nurse crop. Further south, 

 fall seeding may be practiced without winter injury to the young clover 

 plants. 



While clover seed is generally broadcasted, recent tests show that better 

 results can be secured with less seed by using a grass seed drill. Such 

 implements are now available and are so constructed as to drill the rows 

 at intervals of four inches. Their adjustment permits of a shallow cover- 

 ing of the seed. The rate of seeding when clover is growTi alone should be 

 ten to twelve pounds of good seed per acre if broadcasted and a somewhat 

 smaller amount when drilled. When seeded in mixtures the amount may 

 be reduced, depending on the character of the grass seed mixture. Clover 

 seed should be covered from one-half to two inches in depth. On very 

 loose, dry soils it may be covered as much as three inches deep with fairly 

 good results. 



Failure to secure a satisfactory stand of clover frequently results 

 from various causes. The condition of newly seeded clover fields immedi- 

 ately after the nurse crop is harvested should be observed. If there are 

 indications of insufficient plants for a satisfactory stand, it is generally 

 advisable to re-seed at once. This re-seeding may take place over those 

 portions of the field where the stand is poor, or may cover the entire field 

 as conditions require. A disk should be used to loosen the soil before 

 seeding, and after seeding it should be harrowed. Disking may injure 

 some of the clover present, but not seriously. 



Good results are also secured by seeding in August without a nurse 

 crop. Such seeding takes place after the wheat or oat harvest and provides 

 for a full clover crop the following year. The chief objection to this method 

 is the extra labor of preparing the seed-bed and seeding. 



Nurse Crops for Clover. Where clover grows without difficulty, it is 

 common practice to seed with some nurse crop. In sections where winter 

 wheat is grown, this crop is a favored nurse crop for clover. Winter wheat 

 is seldom seeded before the latter part of September and this does not give 

 sufficient time for clover to make enough growth to protect itself during 

 the winter. As a result the clovers north of latitude 36 should be seeded in 



