RED CLOVER. 129 



effect? of clover upon soils is not Jthe least among its valua- 

 ble properties. The reaction rendered possible by the pen- 

 etration into the soil of the long tap roots, and the effect of 

 the dense shade upon the land have a tendency to increase 

 the productiveness, but may not add to the fertility of the 

 soil. 



The composition of the ash of Red Clover is variable, de- 

 pending upon the soils upon which the clover grows, and 

 consists of potash, soda, magnesia, lime, phosphoric acid, 

 sulphuric acid, silica and chlorine. Prof. Emil Wolff, of 

 the Eoyal Academy of Agriculture, at Hohenheim, Wir- 

 temberg, collected all trustworthy analyses of the clover 

 plant, in all fifty-six, and found the average amount of ash 

 in air dry clover to be 6.72 per cent. In the ash there 

 were: 



Potash 34.5 per cent. 



Soda 1.6 " 



Magnesia 12.2 " 



Lime 34.0 " 



Phosphoric acid 9.9 " 



Sulphuric acid 3.0 " 



Silica 2.7 " 



Chlorine 3.7 " 



The' analysis of Red Clover indicates what manures would 

 increase its growth. Sulphate of lime or land plaster, the 

 phosphates, wood ashes, are all excellent top dressings for 

 the clover field. Common stable manure, containing as it 

 does all the elements of a good fertilizer, is suitable as a 

 top dressing for any pasture or meadow. 



Prof. Levi Stockbridge, of Massachusetts, has made some 

 interesting experiments at the Agricultural College at Am- 

 herst, with mineral fertilizers, on nearly all the field crops 

 and grasses. Making a careful analysis of each plant, he 

 prepares formulas for fertilizers suited to the nature and 

 constitution of the plant. To produce one ton of clover 

 per acre more than the natural yield of the soil would he, 

 he gives the following formula : 

 9 



