18 



THE COMPLETE FARMER 



grounds, as from its rapid ^owth it is calculated to smother 

 or keep down the coarser kinds, which naturally abound in 

 these situations. 



Rye Grass is extensively cultivated in Scotland and ihe 

 north of England, and where cock's foot has not superseded 

 it, is generally mixed with clover seeds. It is rather declin- 

 ing in public estimation. It does well in pasture ; and as 

 it contains much nutriment, is considered valuable for cows 

 and sheep. Dickson says it does best in rich moist mea- 

 dows. Young does not speak well of it. 



Red Clover. There are many species of the trifolium, and 

 several varieties of the red clover. Whether the kind we 

 generally cultivate is the pratense, or not, I am unable to 

 determine. The character of red clover as an ameliorating 

 fertilizing crop, is too generally known to require illustration. 

 It cannot be depended upon or permanent grass lands; though 

 it yields to no grass for alternating with grain in convertible 

 husbandry. It formerly was as indispensable in a course of 

 crops in Norfolk, England, (which has been considered pre- 

 eminent for good tillage,) as turnips ; and the maxim was, 

 and still is, 'no turnips, no crops.' But it appears from 

 Young's survey of that country, that it cannot now be de- 

 pended on oftener than once in from eight to twelve years. 

 Trefoil, white clover, cock's foot, rye grass, &c., are therefore 

 alternated with red clover in the grass years. There is 

 reason to believe that neither red clover, nor other grasses, 

 will bear repeating for a course of years upon the generality 

 of soils. They exhaust the ground of the peculiar nourish- 

 ment required for their support. In Great Britain white 

 clover, trefoil, rye grass or cock's foot are generally sown 

 with red clover seeds. From twenty to thirty pounds of 

 seeds are sown to the acre. In the northern states., timothy 

 is generally sown with clover ; though the mixture is an im- 

 proper one for hay ; for the clover is fit for the scythe ten or 

 fifteen days before the timothy has arrived to maturity. If 

 sown alone, from eight to sixteen pounds of clover seed should 

 be put on an acre; more on old land than on new. 



White or Dutch Clover, {trifolium repens,) is considered 

 in England of importance to husbandry, if we are to judge 

 from the great quantity of seed which is there sovv^n annually. 

 With us, many districts produce it spontaneously ; but it is 

 too seldom sown. It shrinks greatly in drying, and does not 

 contain as much nutritive matter as red clover ; yet its value 

 as a pasture grass is universally admitted. Its increase is 



