Requirements — Soil 



Clover does not do well on light, sandy or gravel soil, nor on thin clay 

 soil. The best results are obtained in deep heavy clay or sandy loams 

 where the water line is not too near the surface. If the soil contains 

 too much clay, the plant will die in the early spring when the ground 

 thaws and freezes, causing a heaving which tends to break the tap root 

 and other deep roots. 



Seed-Bed 



The seed-bed should be deep, mellow and free of lumps. 



Roots 



Clover roots grow deep, hence during their early life the little deli- 

 cate roots should have a deep mellow home which will permit them to 

 penetrate early into the deeper subsoils. If the subsoil is extremely 

 compact or a hard-pan exists, it is advisable to use a subsoil plow. 



Clover roots, or in other words the nitrogen-gathering bacteria 

 which are attached to the roots, require atmospheric oxygen, hence 

 the soil should be drained in order to admit air. Again, clover will 

 absolutely fail if there is any considerable proportion of free acid in the 

 soil, or, in other words, if the soil is sour. A large per cent of the 

 failures to grow clover in old soils is undoubtedly due to acidity and a 

 lack of drainage. 



Acid Test 



The farmer can determine whether or not his soil is acid by making 

 the litmus paper test, or a better plan is to select two plots about 

 twenty feet square adjoining. To one plot apply twenty-five or thirty 

 pounds of air-slaked or hydrated lime and disc in deep. Then apply 

 manure or any fertilizer to both plots and plant to ordinary table beets. 

 If lime is required the plot which has been limed will produce the largest 

 crop. 



Lime Needed 



It is safe to say that most of our lands in the corn belt need lime to 

 successfully grow clover. While the amount required varies, one or 

 two tons per acre of the raw limestone finely ground will not be too 

 much. 



Bacteria 



Clover will not thrive if sown on ground which is not inoculated 

 with a bacteria peculiar to clover. Years ago it was thought that all 

 of the eastern and central lands were naturally inoculated, but recently 

 it has been determined that it is necessary to reinoculate in some locali- 

 ties in order to secure a stand. 



