I04 CLOVERS 



ter crops of clover seed may be obtained from clover 

 that has been pastured off than from that w^hich has 

 been mown for hay, although to this rule there are 

 some exceptions. This arises, in part, from the fact 

 that the energies of the plant have been less drawn 

 upon in producing growth, and, therefore, can pro- 

 duce superior seed heads and seed, and in part from 

 the further fact that there is usually more moisture 

 in the soil at the season when the plants which have 

 been pastured off are growing. There would seem 

 to be some relation between the growing of good 

 crops of clover seed and pasturing the same with 

 sheep. It has been claimed that so great is the in- 

 crease of seed in some instances from pasturing with 

 sheep till about June ist, say, in the latitude of Ohio, 

 that the farmer who has no sheep could afford to 

 give the grazing to one who has, because of the 

 extra return in seed resulting. The best crops of 

 seed are obtained when the growth is what may be 

 termed medium or normal. Summers, therefore, 

 that are unusually wet or dry are not favorable to 

 the production of clover seed. 



If weeds are growing amid the clover plants that 

 are likely to mature seed, they should, where prac- 

 ticable, be removed. The Canada thistle, ragweed, 

 plantain and burdock are among the weeds that may 

 thus ripen seeds in medium clover. When not too 

 numerous they can be cut with the spud. When too 

 numerous to be thus cut, where practicable, they 

 should be kept from seeding with the aid of the 

 scythe. To prevent them from maturing is impor- 

 tant, as the seeds of certain weeds cannot be sepa- 



