No. 4.] CLOVERS. 421 



CLOVERS: THEIR VALUE, CHARACTERISTICS OF 

 VARIETIES AND METHODS OF PRODUCTION. 



BY PROF. WM. P. BROOKS, PROFESSOR OF AGRICULTURE, MASSACHU- 

 SETTS AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



Most farmers who keep stock appreciate the fact that the clovers 

 are among the most valuable of all the forage crops that can be pro- 

 duced m Massachusetts. The reasons why the clovers are so impor- 

 tant are not always clearly understood. In this article the writer will 

 attempt to make these reasons clear. Not infrequently, in personal 

 interviews or by letter, the writer's attention is called to the fact that 

 in some localities farmers are meeting with poor success in their efforts 

 to produce this valuable class of forage crops. The reasons for com- 

 parative failure in efforts to produce clover doubtless vary in different 

 localities, and it may not be possible for one unfamiliar with condi- 

 tions to give directions which will always lead to success. Certain 

 conditions, however, which are well established, must be provided, 

 or failure will be the result. An effort will be made to make a clear 

 statement as to what these conditions are, for it is in many cases at 

 least true that comparative failure in the effort to produce clovers is 

 due to a failure to observe some one or more of these conditions. 



Reasons why Clovers are especially Valuable on the Farm. 

 It is the writer's opinion that on farms where stock is kept it will 

 usually not be profitable to use clovers as green manures. They can 

 be better utilized on such farms by cutting and feeding to stock, or by 

 pasturing. On the other hand, where but little stock is kept, and 

 especially where the production of apples, peaches or other tree fruits 

 is an important part of the farm business, the clovers are among the 

 most valuable crops which can be used for cover, to supply humus, 

 and to enrich the soils in nitrogen. It is now generally understood 

 that under right conditions clovers are capable of taking the nitrogen 

 which they need from the air. In this respect the clovers and the 

 other plants of the clover family are superior to any other crops which 

 can be used for similar purposes. It is, then, this single fact, that the 

 clovers can take the nitrogen they need from the air, while crops of 



