No. 4.] CLOVERS. 433 



It seems probable that in most cases somewhat more profitable 

 crops of hay will be obtained if in connection with either the slag and 

 bone meal or the potash salts a moderate amount of nitrate of soda is 

 employed; and experiments in Amherst indicate that from 150 to 200 

 pounds per acre of this salt in connection with the other materials 

 seem to be as large an amount as in seasons with abundant rainfall 

 may profitably be used on strong and retentive soils. On the lighter 

 soils the nitrate may without doubt be more largely employed with 

 profit. 



In top-dressing permanent mowings, whether with the slag meal or 

 bone and potash alone or with these materials in connection with 

 nitrate, it is the practice at Amherst to mix the materials and to apply 

 the mixture about the first of May. There can be little doubt that 

 the slag and the potash salt will do the crop of the succeeding season 

 more good if applied in the autumn ; but applying them at this 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 Clover. 

 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 purpose it is considered desirable to sow clovers alone, the 

 following quantities 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 Seeding. 

 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 



' For seed mixtures for various purposes see article on " Hay Crop in Massachu- 

 setts," by the writer, in the fifty-second annual report of the secretary of the State 

 Board of Agriculture. 



