-90 CLOVERS 



these to sow per acre may be put at 8 pounds of 

 clover and 6 pounds of timothy. When other clo- 

 vers are added, as the mammoth or the alsike, for 

 every pound of the seed of the former added, the 

 seed of the medium red may be reduced by one 

 pound, and for ever}?- pound of the alsike added it 

 may be reduced by ij/^ pounds. In mixtures for 

 permanent pastures, 6 pounds may be fixed upon 

 as the maximum quantity of medium red clover seed 

 to sovif, and 3 pounds as the average quantity. When 

 sown to provide green manure, maximum quantities 

 of seed are used when it is desired to improve the 

 soil quickly. Usually not less than 12 pounds per 

 acre are sown, and quite frequently more. But when 

 the gradual improvement of the land is sought, by 

 sowing the seed on all land devoted to the small 

 cereal grains, not more than 6 pounds per acre are 

 used, and frequently even less than 4 pounds. The 

 greater the hazard to the plants in sowing the seed 

 thus, the less the quantities of the seed that are usu- 

 ually sown, with a view to reduce the loss in case 

 of failure to secure a stand of the clover. 



A stand of medium red clover is sometimes se- 

 cured by what may be termed self-sowing. For in- 

 stance, where clover has been cut for hay and then , 

 allowed to mature even but a portion of the seed be- 

 fore being plowed under the same autumn, the seed 

 thus buried remains in the ground without sprout- 

 ing. When the land is again plowed to the same 

 depth and sown with some kind of grain, the clover 

 seed thus brought to the surface will germinate. If 

 the plowing last referred to is done in the autumn, 



