44 CLOVERS 



and in some instances virtually smothered by such 

 growth of clover. To insure a sufficient growth of 

 clover it may be advantageous to top dress the crop 

 with farmyard manure sufficiently decayed, and in 

 the case of medium red clover to dress the second 

 cutting with land plaster. If the second growth is 

 plowed under, subsequent cultivation of the surface 

 will further aid in completing the work of destruc- 

 tion. 



The crimson variety is sown and also harvested 

 at such a time that the influence on weed eradica- 

 tion is very marked. The ground is usually pre- 

 pared in the summer and so late that weeds which 

 sprout after the clover has been sown cannot ma- 

 ture the same autumn. In the spring it is harvested 

 before any weeds can ripen. When plowed under, 

 rather than harvested, the result is the same. 



When clover is grown in short rotations, its 

 power to destroy weeds is increased. For instance, 

 when the medium red or mammoth varieties are 

 grown in the three years' rotation of corn or some 

 root crop, followed by grain seeded with clover, the 

 effects upon weed eradication are very marked, if 

 the cultivation given to the corn or roots is ample. 

 Under such a system weeds could be virtually pre- 

 vented from maturing seeds at any time, especially 

 if the medium variety of clover were sown, and if 

 the stubbles were mown some time subsequent to the 

 harvesting of the grain crop. Such a system of ro- 

 tation faithfully carried out for a number of years 

 should practically eradicate all, or nearly all, the nox- 

 ious forms of weed life. 



