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The tendency to vary among the different species of clovers is appar- 

 ently not less than it is in many other species of cultivated plants. It 

 cannot be doubted that by intelligent effort greatly improved types or 

 types suited to widely different purposes may be produced. Foreign 

 countries are ahead of us in this direction, and on the Experiment 

 Station farm at Amherst there is now a considerable collection of varie- 

 ties of clovers, of the red, alsike and white species respectively. The 

 different varieties exhibit wide differences one from the other, and some 

 of them have great apparent promise. These varieties of clovers have 

 not been under trial sufficiently long to justify sending out any of them 

 but it is among the possibilities of the near future that we shall have 

 highly improved types of the different leading species of clovers, types 

 which are suited to varying conditions or to different purposes. Mean- 

 while, in conclusion upon this topic, the intelligent clover grower is 

 urged to keep his eyes open for promising plants, and finding them, 

 either to propagate from them himself, or to send them to the Experi- 

 ment Station, where they will be given careful trial. 



The Conditions Essential for the Most Successful and Profit- 

 able Growth of the Clovers. 



1. Soil Conditions. — Successful clover growing is impossible unless 

 the soil conditions are right. These plants will thrive upon a consider- 

 able A'ariety of soils as regards texture and composition, but for the best 

 results a deep, mellow and fairly retentive soil which is well drained is 

 essential. Clovers will absolutely fail if there is any considerable pro- 

 portion of free acid in the soil, or, in farmers' language, if the soil be 

 "sour." If blue litmus paper in contact with moderately moist soil 

 turns red as it absorbs the moisture, this is an indication that the soil 

 is sour, but the farmer will be wise if before incurring any considerable 

 expense for the correction of acidity he makes a careful test for himself. 

 One of the best farmer's tests can be carried out as follows: take two 

 small plots of land in a field supposed to possess "sour" soil and plow 

 them both. Plots containing about one square rod each will be suffi- 

 cient. They should, of course, be located in a representative portion of 

 of the field. After plowing spread about 20 jiounds of builders' lime 

 or R-R agricultural lime on one of the plots. Work this lime in deeply 

 with the wheel harrow, then manure or fertilize both plots alike and 

 heavily, and plant table beets. If the soil is sour, these beets will grow 

 much better on the plot to which the, lime has been applied than on 

 the other, and it is safe to conclude that a heavy application of lime 

 will be essential before clovers will flourish. If the experiment indi- 

 cates that lime is essential, it will i)r()bably be needed at about the rate 

 of 1 ton to the acre; the weight referred to to be taken before slacking. 

 If air-slacked lime is used, H tons to the acre will not be too much. 

 The best season for applying lime is autumn or early sjiring. As a 

 rule, it should be spread upon the plowed land antl deeply worked in 

 with the disc harrow. 



2. The Use of Much Manure inexpedient. — The writer is aware. that 

 splendid clover is often grown where the land is heavily dressed with 

 manure. He is not disposed to deny the possibility of |)r(>ducing fine 

 crops of clover on manure alone. He would, nevertheless, urge that 

 manure alone be not depended upon as a means of enriching clover 

 land. The leading and most valuable element of plant food in manures 

 is nitrogen. The api)lication of this for clovers in any considerable 

 amounts is unneces.sary. If clovers are grown on manures, they will 

 feed upon the nitrogen in the manure. They will not draw from the 



