Grow Clover and Alfalfa. 8i 



because of the frequency with which they 

 are generally cut, but also because of their 

 "smothering" tendencies, especially on good 

 soil and in suitable seasons. Common red 

 clover may generally be cut twice a year — 

 a process which usually renders it impos- 

 sible for perennial weeds growing in it to 

 ripen their seeds the same season. Alfalfa 

 may generally be cut oftener than twice a 

 year. When a luxuriant growth is obtained, 

 both these crops tend to smother and 

 weaken the perennial weeds growing among 

 them. When these crops are grown to be 

 cut for fodder, the ripening of annual and 

 biennial weeds growing among them is also 

 pretty effectively hindered, but if they are 

 allowed to mature their seeds, some kinds 

 of weeds w^ill also ripen theirs along wath 

 them. 



Although alfalfa is even more valuable 

 than common red clover for the purpose 

 of checking the ripening of weed seeds, 

 owing to tlie greater frequency with which 

 it is cut, yet since it can be grown only on 

 certain kinds of soils its use as an aid in 

 weed destruction is considerably circum- 

 scribed. Both crops are also excellent for 

 other purposes, as the bringing of nitrogen 



