Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1830-10-04
CULTURE OF CLOVER.

Not0Wag Co., "a, Sept Is 1890.
II is fact which may, think, be nnIver,
SALLY admitted, that whatever Induces sward
on land, enrirhes and improves i which II Is
well known grass does, especially when aided
with g. psum coat OF manure; 50 that
consider the sowing Of grass seeds rs the east
! est, cheapest and most profitable way Of i'm
proving our exhausted soils That bringing a
swa,d on land melioratcs il. IL proved not only
by 'e increase o gra.s which it yields but
by tie certainty of such land producing good
crop ofgrain afterwards, Il the sod Is well rot
ten. Indeed, turf is used for manurs IN some
parts, particularly on Long Island.
shall not ennmerate all the different kinds
of grass seeds which may be used for the pur
pose hnt shall confine myself mostly 10 sdch as
are in common use in this country, and IN which
have bad the creates experience. These are
red clover and timothy, which shall proceed
10 consider in that order.
al. Red Clorer This is generally prefer
red and most commonly sown in this part OF
the conntry, IL being one of our most eful
grasses, aud peculiarly adapted tor upland dry
soils, where wheat ihrives vel
- II is not nv Intention 10 Describe the ma
thod OF cnltivaiing those grasses, so much as to
recommend ard 2on. out the ndyantagss re-
suiting ,herefrom, in furnishing plentiful
supply of pasture and hay, and in improving
| lands. shall, therefore. avoid describing the
process of sowing and culture. exceptin few
particulars, which think are not sufficiently
attended to, or wherein my opinion NAV differ
from Others, and fer which apprehend have
good reason for so doing.
The most common time for saving grass
seeds in this county, is in the last winter or first
| spring month, on light snow which fire.
quent, does pretty well bu, at other times il
comes up very thnly AMI unequall, owing TO
the difficulty OF getting root, and 10 It's beng
washed away with heavy rams. For which
reason, prefer u sow II with the grain, alter
the first narrowing and before the second. or
after the latter, and narrowing it again with u
bush in which way il may be scattered very
event, and will he well covered, aud by being
| more deeply rooted think il bears both the
droughtS and the winters Of our climate better.
This method is not very commonly practised,
| though generally admitted when the " ed is
| sown liz the spring with barley or oats. But an
objection has been made 10 it when soWn in
| the autumn with winter grain, on account Of
| lis beug kiIled with frost; " hich | admit TO be
not without rs validity. But | believe tne prac-
| tcal farmers experience will induce him 10
! prefer the method have recommended
| The general proporti on OF seed is about four
or FIVE pounds to the acre but think il may
| double that quantity. when il will not only
! yield more grass, but Withstand the drought
| better, grow less woody. and not fall down so
| much, the last of wnch is no little Inconvenience
when il is mogn
- Clover Acids should not be pasured early
| in the spring, before the lateral stalks sprout /;
nor he trodden with cattle, nor be rooted with
! SWINE, whilst they are wet or contain frost
| Although 1t Injuries clover 10 feed l. very young
yet considerable may be lost by suffering it 10
| grow too rank before l. is depasiured, when
creatures generally prefer and eat the shoitest
spots, and the tsllest 60 TO seed or die, and do
not sprout again quickly.
| Many prefer mixing timothy seed with
clover, which. when designed for hay, do not
! approve OF, for reasons to he given hereafter,
but for pasture think well oft, a. it is likely
TO prevent the bad eff cts OF cover's killing
horned cattle, with which all are acquainted :;
and to obviate which, they should not be turned
| 10 first when the grass is wet, or when they are
very hungry, but raiser suffered 10 remain in
| all night.
| When the land is moist or subject to be
| thrown with frost, and when il is wished TO
keep it long in grass, timothy may be advan-
tageously mixed wth clover, or preferred a.
| lone.
| Much Of the goodness Of clover hay de-
| ponds on the proper season OF cutting II, and
method OF curing il both of which being now
so generally known. ! need not describe. Nei-
ther shall enumerate all the different kinds OF
msnnre which promote lis growth, further than
to say, tina, gypsum or plaster does IN sur
prising degree, and exceeds them all, and IS
! perhaps at present the cheapest.