1920.] 



Wild White Clover. 



61 



quite marked even after 5 years. Where the land has been 

 ploughed up a much heavier crop of oats has almost invariably 

 resulted from the wild white clover. 



At present prices of 30s. to 35s. a lb. it may not be economical 

 to sow as much afc 2 lb. per acre, but \ lb. per acre of wild white 

 clover seed adds greatly to the value of a seed mixture and 

 should, as a rule, be included for both temporary leys and 

 permanent pastures. With proper treatment the rooting thus 

 obtained will be sufficient to provide an ample covering. 



It is highly desirable that more farmers should arrange to 

 harvest seed supplies of this valuable plant. For immediate 

 requirements, fields which are naturally full of white clover 

 should be selected. The crop should not be cut until it is ripe. 

 In most cases the ordinary hay mowing machine, with the knives 

 set as low as possible, will be found quite satisfactory, but when 

 the crop is very short it may be necessary to cut with the 

 scythe. 



Information as to handling the crop after cutting will be 

 found in a bulletin issued by the Ministry on Growing Wild 

 White Clover for Seed. Threshed and roughly dressed by such 

 means as are at the disposal of the farmer, the seed may be 

 used for his own purposes. Any surplus could readily be 

 disposed of to seed merchants who have special machinery 

 for cleaning and dressing before the seed is offered for general 

 sale. 



Where it is desired to establish w T hite clover meadows for 

 seeding purposes, old pastures with little grass (but with a 

 sprinkling of white clover) are usually selected. They should 

 be dressed with about 7 to 10 cwt. per acre of basic slag in the 

 autumn or early winter and should be grazed with cattle till 

 the end of May in order to keep down the grass. The clover 

 should then be fit for harvesting in August or September. 



