426 Transactions of the American Institute. 



be named hereafter — who is equally intelligent, while long-expe- 

 rienced in agriculture in that neighborhood. Of the information 

 aflbrded me by these correspondents, I propose to make a free use 

 in this paper. In doing so, I shall endeavor to follow their excel- 

 lent examples, and confine myself to matters of fact. 



First, then, as to the proper season for sowing clover, the quan- 

 tity of seed to the acre, the best time for curing hay, etc. 



The proper season for sowing will, of course, depend more or 

 less on the Icjcality, to say nothing of the variableness of the 

 weather in any given spot. Hence, I shall content mj'self by 

 giving the Virginia dates for this and other steps in clover culture, 

 which do not vary much from those preferred in Maryland, Dela- 

 ware and Southern Pennsylvania, and which may serve as a general 

 guide — premising that the difference in the season for spring sowing 

 and planting is at least three weeks later in this section of New 

 York than in the farthest southward locality in reference. Spring 

 is the proper season for sowing, and the usual time is from Feb- 

 ruary to April. It is very common to sow it on the snow, which 

 some farmers think calculated to facilitate the germination of the 

 seed, and the firm rooting of the young plant. 



The best condition of the soil is, when it is bearing a crop of 

 winter wheat or rye (spring wheat is not practically known in the 

 States named). The cereals protect the clover until it gets a start, 

 so that, so soon as the grain is harvested, the J^oung plants shoot 

 up with a growth too vigorous for injury from even the scorching 

 sun of July, by the memorable fourth day of which most of the 

 wheat and rye is cut, in order that (in Virginia, particularly, accord- 

 ing to the custom which used to prevail), all hands may attend the 

 barbecue^ black as well as white, and eat of the big ox, and drink of 

 the rye whisky, which was sure to be furnished plentifully, to the 

 slaves as well as the poor whites, to wash down the half-roasted 

 beef, and to knock the drinkers down, or stimulate them to per- 

 form that friendly office in the midst of a general row, by way of 

 giving proof that the alcohol is no respecter of persons, and that 

 the fourth of July is a day worthy to be held sacred — in which 

 after-harvest innocent amusement, I am sorry to be obliged to tes- 

 tify, in passing, even the masters, especially the "young massas," 

 occasionally took a part! 



The quantity of seed is usually about one gallon to the acre, 

 costing only from seventy-five cents to one dollar and twenty-five 

 cents. The supply for the Shenandoah Valley, in the boyhood of 



