36 



the mixture about the first of May. Th(M'e can bo little doulit that 

 the slag and the potash salt will do the croj) of the .succecdinjj; season 

 more good if applied in the autumn, but applying them at tbis time 

 would mean going over the ground twice, once with the mixture of 

 slag and potash, and once with the nitrate. It would, moreover, be 

 found difficult to apply the small quantity of nitrate evenly by itself, 

 and it seems doubtful, therefore, whether in the long run better results 

 will not be secured by applying the mixture of all the materials in the 

 spring. 



Seeding to Glover. 



As has been pointed out, it is almost invariably best in general farm- 

 ing to sow the clovers in mixture with grasses. Clovers growing alone 

 are not likely to stand up well. If sown in mixture with a stout grow- 

 ing grass, such as timothy or orchard grass, the clovers retain their 

 upright position much better than when growing alone. If, however, 

 for any pui'pose it is considered desirable to sow clovers alone, the 

 following fjuantities of seed per acre will usually be sufficient : — * 



Red clover 15 pounds. 



Mammoth clover, 20 pounds. 



Alsike clover 12 pounds. 



White clover, 8 pounds. 



Spring Seediuy. 



The clovers are sown in spring in either one of two systems. 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 with 

 grain or grasses. Under these conditions the soil cannot be freshly 

 prepared, nor can the seed be covered. As might be expected, there- 

 fore, germination 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 ([uite 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 germinates well, 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 sown either alone or in connection with grass 

 seeds, with or without grain as a nurse croj). 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 .luly. 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 



* For seed mixtures for various purposes see article on " Hay Crop in Massa- 

 chusetts" by the writer in the fifty-second annual report of the secretary of the 

 State Board of Agriculture. 



