210 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



May 



abundant than on the red clover. The flowers 

 are said to be very beautiful, of larger size 

 than those of the wliite clover, of pinkish 

 color, and are very fragrant. 



Mr. J. B. Tik-ner, of Jacksonville, 111., 

 sowed six acres, using from three to four 

 pounds of seed to the acre with the usual 

 amount of timothy seed. He says it came up 

 very thick, though the drought was unpar- 

 alleled in thirty years' experience in that re- 

 gion. It grew about half knee high by the 

 last of September, and blossomed out all over 

 the field within about three months of the time 

 of sowing, and on the 8th of November fur- 

 nished an abundance of fresh feed for the 

 stock. He adds, — I am very much pleased 

 with it indeed. I believe it is hardier, more 

 prolific, and furnishes more feed for stock 

 than the red or white clover, and is of a far 

 more desirable quality for cows or hogs, and 

 especially for horses. 



The Canada Farmer states that the quantity 

 of seed required per acre is five pounds when 

 sown clear ; and about half that amount when 

 sown with timothy. It should be sown in the 

 spring with wheat or barley, in the same man- 

 ner as red clover. When allowed to ripen its 

 seed, it cannot be »ut more than once in a 

 season, as it bears its seed with the first blos- 

 soms in each year ; but if grown for a hay 

 crop, it can be cut again in the fall, and will 

 yield a generous lot of fine hay for calves and 

 sheep. Its rank growth on rich ground makes 

 it liable to lodge. It is said to afford excel- 

 lent pasturage for bees. 



We hope that many of our readers will test 

 this clover by sowing it this spring on various 

 soils, and in feeding it to all kinds of stock. 



Until the seed is more abundant the price 

 will remain high ; but the small quantity re- 

 quired per acre will enable many persons to 

 give it a fair trial. 



PROPER DEPTH OP SEEDS, 

 A very considerable proportion of the far- 

 mers of New England do not raise the grass 

 seeds which they annually sow. With it they 

 purchase a variety of foul seeds which not 

 only cost much money, but are stocking the 

 land with hardy and worthless plants. In ad- 

 dition to these losses, there is another question 

 which has been too little regarded, viz : tliat 

 of ascertaining the depth at which seeds will 

 most readily and certainly germinate. 



In sowing grass seed, the common practice 

 is to plough and harrow the land, level a little 

 with spade and hoe, sow the grass seed with 

 grain and harrow again. This last operation 

 is usually performed with a harrow whose 

 teeth are from five to eight or ten inches in 

 length. Each tooth- opens a drill, as the im- 

 plement passes along, to the depth of half its 

 entire length, at least. The teeth are arranged 

 in gangs, so that the whole surface is moved. 

 Is it not probable, then, that very many of 

 the seeds drop into these drills, and are cov- 

 ered so deeply as to prevent their coming 

 up ? We have no doubt of it ; nor any doubt 

 that the farmer meets with a serious loss in 

 this respect. 



It would be an easy matter for farmers to 

 experiment for themselves, by placing seeds 

 in small pots, cups or saucers, and place them 

 on the window sill, or in any wann position 

 where the seeds would have a favorable place 

 for sprouting. Scatter some seeds upon the 

 surface, and leave them there. Then place 

 others at various depths below the surface by 

 pressing a pointed stick, that is marked with 

 inches and parts of inches, into the soil. Make 

 a record of time where sowed, depth, and 

 time of appearance of plant, and the opera- 

 tion will give a fair idea of the depth at which 

 various seeds should be planted, in order to 

 secure a quick and healthy germination. 



Various experiments are on record in rela- 

 tion to this matter, one of which was with In- 

 dian corn. That which was planted at the 

 depth of 



No. 1 1 inch, came up in %% days. 



1>^ 

 ,2 



,3 



,4 

 .^% 

 .5 

 .5}^ 



9>i 

 10 



12 

 13 

 13^ 



ny^ 



Nos. 8, 9, 11, were dug up after twenty- 

 two days, and it was found that No. 8 had an 

 inch more to grow to reach the surface of the 

 earth. Nos. 9 and 11 had just sprouted, but 

 were short and 3 inches below the surface. 

 No. 10 came up in seventeen and one-half 

 days, but the tender leaf remained only six 

 days green, and then withered. 



This experiment shows very clearly the ad- 

 vantage of shallow planting, when the soil is 

 in good condition ; that is, not too loose, nor 



