No. 4.] CLOVERS. 427 



grains and fruits, we have thus far made little effort to produce select 

 and more perfect varieties of our different species of forage crops. We 

 have been satisfied to go on year after year sowing a mixed or average 

 seed. The tendency to vary among the different species of clovers is 

 apparently 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. For- 

 eign countries are ahead of us in this direction; and on the experi- 

 ment station farm at Amherst there is now a considerable collection 

 of varieties of clovers, — of the red, alsike and white species respec- 

 tively. 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. Meanwhile, 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 experiment 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 variety of soils as regards texture and composition, but for the 

 best results a deep, meUow and fairly retentive soil which is well 

 drained is essential. Clovers will absolutely fail if there is any consid- 

 erable proportion 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 sufficient. They should, of course, be located 

 in a representative portion of the field. After plowing, spread about 

 20 pounds of builders' lime or R-R agricultural Hme 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 indicates that lime is essential, it will probably be 



