First, the clover seed-bed should be of good tilth, all of the surface 

 lumps thoroughly pulverized, and the seed sown at a time when germi- 

 nation will be rapid. If clover is sown on fall grain in the spring, the 

 farmer should not mud it in nor sow it when the ground is extremely 

 cold. He should wait until the surface is beginning to dry and is rea- 

 sonably warm. A light harrow should be run over the surface before 

 the seed is sown; after the seed is on the ground, a corrugated roller 

 should be used. 



Lime Needed 



I think I am safe in saying that a large per cent of the failures to 

 secure a good, healthy stand and a continued, rapid growth through the 

 season, is due to the lack of lime in the soil. Sour soil causes the plant 

 to be weak and anaemic. It turns yellow and most of it will die in the 

 event of drouth. 



Winter-Killing 



Winter-killing can, in a great measure, be prevented by spreading a 

 thin coat of manure over the surface just as the ground is freezing. 

 Early in the spring a peg-tooth harrow or a rake should be used for the 

 purpose of loosening compact pieces of manure which, if permitted to 

 remain on the plant, would cause smothering. If clover winter-kills, 

 cow peas, soy beans or vetch should be sown. If the ground is rich, cut 

 for hay, leaving a high stubble, fall plow and top dress with barnyard 

 manure, and disc in before planting corn. Clover, like alfalfa, should 

 not be pastured too close after the last cutting. 



No fixed rotation will apply to all climates and soils. The farmer 

 should plan to suit the crops best adapted to his climate and to the 

 general character of the soil. 



In the corn belt, a good rotation is corn, wheat (oats or barley) and 

 clover. Where clover cannot be grown, another legume should be sub- 

 stituted. Where wheat and corn do not thrive well, Kaffir corn, milo 

 maize or millet may be substituted. When alfalfa is used in a rotation, 

 it should not be plowed under more often than every five years. Barley 

 and rye follow wheat very nicely, but wheat should never follow those 

 crops. Potatoes, beets and turnips require a deep, loose seed-bed, rich 

 in organic matter. It is not advisable, however, to apply manure the 

 year the crops are planted. Sugar beets require an alkali soil and the 

 ground should be of loose texture and the seed-bed not less than twelve 

 inches deep. Root crops do well after clover or any of the legumes pro- 

 vided the land is plowed deep and thoroughly disced the previous fall. 

 A good plan is to plant cow peas as a catch crop after the grain has been 

 harvested. The ground should be thoroughly manured, and after the 

 pea crop has attained a good growth, plowed under deep. It should be 

 again plowed the next spring before the crop is planted. It is not advis- 

 able to plant oats and rye on loose ground or soil that is too rich, for the 

 reason that they lodge easily. 



