42 CLOVERS 



hay or seed. They have also demonstrated that 

 more nitrogen is left in the soil by clover roots after 

 a seed crop than after a crop of hay. 



From what has been said, it will be apparent 

 that the extent to which clovers enrich the soil will 

 depend upon the strength of the growth of the 

 plants and certain other conditions. It will not be 

 possible to reduce to figures the additions in plant 

 food which clovers add to the soil other than in a 

 comparative way. Dr. Voelker has stated that there 

 is fully three times as much nitrogen in a crop of 

 clover as in the average produce of the grain and 

 straw of wheat per acre. Dr. Kedzie is on record 

 as having said that in the hay or sod furnished by 

 a good crop of clover, there is enough nitrogen for 

 more than four average crops of wheat, enough 

 phosphoric acid for more than two average crops 

 and enough of potash for more than six average 

 crops. He has said, moreover, that the roots and 

 stubble contain fully as much of these elements as 

 hay. 



It will also be apparent that where clover grows 

 in good form no cheaper or better way can be 

 adopted in manuring land, and that in certain areas 

 the judicious use of land plaster on the clover has- 

 tens the renovating process. It is thought that in 

 some instances the mere loading and spreading of 

 barnyard manure costs more than the clover and 

 plaster. Especially will this be true of fields distant 

 from the farm steading. It is specially important, 

 therefore, that in enriching these, clover will be util- 

 ized to the fullest extent practicable. 



