226 Fertilizers 



follow it as a crop. Among these, red, mammoth red, 

 alsike and white clover should be mentioned. "As 

 clover is a legume, it is not usually benefited by the addi- 

 tion of nitrogenous manures, except in the early stages 

 of growth. On soils not well supplied with vegetable 

 matter, manures are very beneficial, primarily in correct- 

 ing the deficiencies, and in providing a more favorable 

 medium for the development of specific bacteria. The 

 size of the crop will be measured to some extent, also, by 

 the abundance of mineral elements, thus enabling the plant 

 to employ to full advantage its capability of gathering 

 nitrogen. In many cases, particularly on soils that are 

 likely to heave, a mulch of manure is very beneficial as a 

 protection." An application of 100 pounds of acid phos- 

 phate and 50 of muriate of potash or one which will fur- 

 nish 14 pounds of phosphoric acid and 25 pounds of 

 potash to the acre marks the minimum dressing, and it 

 may be applied with advantage immediately after the 

 wheat is harvested. 



Timothy. (See Fig. 16, Plate VIII.) 



The timothy, the next crop in the rotation, is a member 

 of the grass family, and is especially benefited by nitrog- 

 enous fertilization, and top-dressings in the spring with 

 nitrate of soda have proved of great value on soils well 

 supplied with minerals, though experienced farmers have 

 learned that better results are obtained if the minerals 

 are applied with the nitrate, thus insuring a better growth 

 and development of plant. A mixture made up of 100 

 pounds of nitrate of soda, 150 pounds of acid phosphate 

 and 50 pounds of muriate of potash, at the rate of 300 

 pounds to the acre, is now used by many successful hay- 

 growers. In an ordinary season, such an application may 



