JAPAN CLOVER 285 



Preparing the Soil. — While careful preparation 

 of the land will result in more certain and uniform 

 germination in the seed, and more rapid growth in 

 the plants, careful preparation of the seed is not so 

 necessary with Japan clover as with many other 

 pasture and hay plants. The seeds are strong in 

 germinating power and the plants are much able to 

 grow, even under adverse conditions, when they do 

 germinate. Usually, the preparation which is suited 

 to nurse crops, amid which this clover is sown, will 

 be suited also to the clover when it is sown thus. 



In many instances, however, it is allowed to re- 

 seed itself where it has been once sown, or even 

 where it may have come into the soil without sow- 

 ing. In'this way successive pasture crops have been 

 obtained. But usually where hay crops are wanted, 

 it will prove more satisfactory, all things considered, 

 to sow the seed. 



In many instances, simply scarifying the ground 

 has been found a sufficient preparation for the seed. 

 Any implement that will pulverize the surface for 

 a few inches downward will answer for such work. 

 In very many instances, seed, of course, self-sown 

 has become rooted and grown vigorously on un- 

 plowed land. 



Sowing. — Japan clover is more commonly sown 

 in the spring, but it is sometimes sown in the au- 

 tumn. There is more or less of hazard in sowing it 

 in the autumn north of the Gulf States, since when 

 the plants are young they will not stand much frost. 

 For the same reason, there is the element of hazard 

 in sowing it too early in the spring. Spring sowing 



