Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1830-05-17
From the Southern .4gricuiiuris.
ON THE CULTURE OF RED CLOVER

| fehufetof'i Juty H. lS2o.
Dear Sir observing IN the last number o
your work, thai you have re-published fact
as 10 the resuscitation OF crop OF red clover
which had incidentally stated to the Editor o
The American Farmer, l beg leave TO state il
more particularly believing that an inference
\ may be drawn which may prove useful. at leas
10 the upper part OF our state.
| The cultivation of red clover, as an improye,
OF our soil, and as q substitute for that contin-
| ual draft on our corn cribs, has been long a
| desideratum in our system OF husbanlry 4; but
heretofore neglected, from an impression thai
the heato our suns was too intense, and ouI
soil too arid for its product. But the result oil
my little experience has, think, clearly proved
that il Will not only flourish we'll, bot that il
is very difficult il not impossible to eradicate
il.
think on reflection, that il was in February
1916, that sowed two acres in clover and thu
oihy, with a little oats, intended as shield u
gainsr the heat the sun. The latter took the
lead matured and was cut, leaving the FORMER
thiply scattered over the surface. II was sui
fered 10 remain that season. and go TO seed on
the ground. The spring following. being very
wet, the whole surface was completely covered
with the most luYurant growth of clover aud
timothy that | ever saw. At the proper time il
was moved, aud all who saw it were as onished
as its product. The next year proved dry, and
il did mol succeed so wen
The high price of cotton. the cultivation OF
which, al that time seemed to absorb every O.
Their pursuit. induced me to abandon the idea
OF grazing, which I contemplated at the com
mencement of nv experiment, and the clover
patch was pout ed up very deep, with Two
horse barshare for potatoes, preparatory TO a
crop of cotton which followed aud was con.
tinued three or four years successfully. Welding
not less than one thousand pounds green seed
per acre.
twas manfred, and planted in corn, FIVE
feet by eight inches in the dill, TO contend fol
a premium offered by our agricultural society
The product was fifty nine bushels and three
pecks per acre, Notwithstanding IL suffered Sc.
verey from drought, otherwise, all who saw
il growing believed that II would have made
from seventy to eighty bushels per acre. The
year following il was sowed in rye, yielding a
fine crop then rested one year and finally.
sowed in oats last February, and 10 my aston.
shnent, as well as all who have seen il, lne
growth Of clover has sprung up, where there
had not been the least yesi'ge for ten years.
II is scattered over about two acres hut an
acre, or little less, has turned off very nearly
four large wagon loads OF hay, as much piled
on as four large mules could draw. lie aust
be sceptical indeed, who dues not believe that
red clover can be successfully cultivated, al
leas, in our upper districts, after the result
which have stated.
Hoping thalts cultivation may become gen
eral, and believing that it is OF the utmost ln-
portance. not only in renoYating our exhausted
fields, but as furnishing the means OF rearing
our own stock, which all must admit TO be ne
cessary in these tarif c times. II beg leave to
subscribe myself very respectfully yours, &c.
JOHN +. CALHOUN.