CLASS OF SOILS SUITABLE. 97 



clover plant is to form large and fleshy roots, which have 

 a tendency always to penetrate deep into the soil, and to 

 seek their supplies of food from the lower stratum. This 

 tendency should always be encouraged in all our culti- 

 vated plants. It has a twofold power of benefit to the 

 farmer not only have his crops a greater range of feed- 

 ing ground, but they abstract from the subsoil, and elabo- 

 rate into their own structures on the surface, the food 

 ingredients which, by the percolation of rain or other 

 natural causes, have been carried down below the range 

 of tillage operations; while, at the same time, their roots 

 being buried deep in the soil, secure to them the power of 

 obtaining moisture from below at a time when the more 

 surface-rooted plants are suffering from the effects of the 

 summer sun and drought. 



Although the clover will grow in dry soils and dry 

 climates, its development will be limited and its pro- 

 duce will be necessarily smaller than where a sufficient 

 supply of moisture can be had. It possesses a large leaf 

 surface, and considerable powers of increase under favour- 

 able conditions; and if these are secured to it, its pro- 

 ductive returns are generally very satisfactory. Our 

 knowledge of its requirements would therefore lead us 

 to consider that in all cases we should endeavour to 

 secure for it a deep, well-tilled soil, containing sufficient 

 moisture in itself for the requirements of the growing 

 crop, and yet free from any stagnant water, as directly the 

 roots arrived at the water stratum, the further healthy 

 growth of the crop would be at once arrested. The 

 chances of injury from this latter condition of the soil 

 can always be met successfully by thorough draining, an 

 operation which forms one of the principal elements of 

 success in all systems of farming. The chemical conditions 

 of the soil necessary for the clover crops are generally 

 secured by carefully following out the principles upon 



