Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-07-17

In the Gazette of the iath June. we
gave an account with recommendation
of number of respectable Farmers OF
Pennsylvania, setting forth the superior
qualities of the Esperset, or Swiss Clo-
YER Since that time, the Editor has re-
ceived letter from gentleman of
highly respectable standing in Pennsyl-
vania, adviseing him of the purchase, by
late arrival, of cargo of this invalua-
bic grass seed; the only seed of the kind
in the United States. Should any Of the
Farmers of Berkeley, feel disposed to
try the Esperset, they will be good e.
nough to leave directions with the Editor
Of this paper, and he will procure it for
them. Those of Jefferson county, can
have il procured for them, by leaveing
directions with Messrs. James s. Lane
s. Towner, of Shepherd's-Town. For
the more general information of the Es-
perset, we have inserted the following
description oft, which is translated from
German botanical work, and may not
be uninteresting to those who are dis
posed TO give It a trial.
The esperset, (Hedysarum Onobri-
chis) Cockshead and is also known UNI
der the name of Esper St Foin, and
Cocks Comb; is a Clover that is much
surer crop in our soil than any hereto
fore introduced. In Thuringen it Is
called Shot, and is held in the highest
estimation by the farmers of that coun-
try. 1t grows in every cline and soil,
but succeeds best in poor billy, gravel
ly land, where scarcely any thing else
will grow, and in the coolest climates it
never suffers by the frost. The seed
is best sown in the fall, but may also be
sown during the spriug and summer UNI
til the first of July, inorder to raise
seed from it the next year. One bushel
sown on an acre is sufficient, and |. re-
quires no fostering after being well har-
rowed in, but derives great benefit from
plaster of Paris, ashes, or lime, sown Or
spread upon it in the fall.
The first year it, like the Spanish or
red clover, yields very little, and it is
better not to pasture it at all; the next
year the stems will be from two to
three feet high and may be cut in June,
and again in the fall, every acre then
will yield from three to four tons of hay,
of a superior quality. The third, fourth
and following years, it will yield full
crop, and may be cut three and lin good
seasons) even four times. For green
feed, tits cut when about IS or 90
inches high and in blossom, which is
from to 9 inches in length--of a
beautiful pink colour. St Foin will
last twenty, land according to Shubert
de Kleefeld,) fifty years without being
resown.
There is no other grass that improves
the soil so much as the St Foin; it is
maintained by the most experienced e.
economists in farming, that this clover Ell
Their in its green state or as hay, is deci-
dedly superior to any other even in
troduced as nourishing food. 1t is
much earlier than any other grass, and
enriches the milk of cows more. 1t Is
said that butter made of the milk from
cows, fed altogether upon Saint Foin,
is richer, sweeter, and purer tasted
than when they are fed upon the red
clover, or any other vegetable sub
stance; as that of Holstein and Switzer-
land for instance where no other clover
is used; and it is well known that no
country produces finer or better cattle
than those of Switzerland; or is any
country more famed for the finest butter
and cheese. The horses also are very
fond of it until the seed is ripe. 1t con-
tains so much nutriment that it both
strengthens and fattens them very soon,
by which one half of the oats usually
given to horses may be saved. 1t is a
strong and wholesome food for sheep,
land the wethers soon grow fat on it,
also for young swine, turkeys, geese
and ducks, when cut fine and mixed
with meal or bran.
The esperset or St Foin is not full of
Preventative sap like the Spanish or red
clover, therefore, not so flatuous and
dangerous for cattle. Iii is not subject
to mildew, and is much NOR nourishlng
than the red clover-it is also easier
made into hay. a.,
A field ofSt Foin, when in full bloom,
| is most enrapturing sight, beautiful be-
yond description, and when moved, IT
fiusthe air with the most delicious and
/ -~sS ~-f~---I $1,000