130 



THE GRASSES OF TENNESSEE. 



Nitrogen 43 lbs 



Potash 40 " 



Phosphoric acid 11 " 



in the 

 form of 



Sulph. Ammonia, 24 per cent 



dry salt 215 lbs. 



Muriate potash, 80 per cent. 



dry salt 80 lbs. 



Superphosphate, 13 percent 

 sol acid 80 lbs. 



This is sown over the clover broadcast, in early spring, 

 I suppose, though the time is not mentioned. 



Guano is also found, on clayey soils, to largely increase 

 the growth of clover. When used on a wheat field seeded 

 to clover in early spring, a "catch" of clover will be secured 

 on the thinnest spots, and grow luxuriantly. The greatest 

 benefits from an application of guano upon wheat are often 

 obtained in this way. A good stand of clover, however 

 secured, is the best possible preparation of land for a suc- 

 ceeding crop of wheat. And this arises not only from the 

 available nitrogen which a clover crop supplies, but from 

 the deep and thorough subsoiling which is effected by the 

 deep, penetrating tap-roots of the clover. They often de- 

 scend to the depth of four feet in search of food, while its 

 broad leaves " absorb carbon from the atmosphere, changing 

 it into solid matter, and causing elements in the soil to as- 

 sume organic forms, rendering them more available as food 

 for other crops." If the soil be robbed of its fertility, the 

 deficient elements must be added before clover will "take." 



As clover derives or is supposed to derive a large per- 

 centage of the constituents necessary to its growth from the 

 atmosphere, it is all important that there should be a good 

 top growth. Its value as a renovator of the soil depends 

 largely upon the quantity of the roots, and the roots will 

 always be proportioned to the amount of top. For this rea- 

 son it is better to cut clover off than to feed it off. A 

 writer in the American Cultivator, speaking of this subject, 

 says: 



" Where a clover sod is desired for future grain or other 

 crop, it will be found that the cutting of clover is generally 

 better than feeding it off, because every leaflet upward has 



