Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-06-15
(Fr0m he Southern .9grieHi,urisl)
ON THE CULTURE OF RED CLOVER

PENDLEroN, July II, 1929.
Dear Sir:-Observng in the last number of your
work. that you have re-publshcd fact to the resus
citation oil crop of red clover, which had accidently
stated TO the Editor of the American Farmer, beg
leave TO state 1T more particularly; believing that an in
ference may be drawn which may prove useful at least
TO the upper part of state.
The cultivation OF red clover, mprovcr of our
SOIL and as substitute for that continual draft on our
corn cribs, has been long desideratum i'm our system
oil husbandry; but heretofore neglected, from an i'm
preston that the heat of too intense and
our SOIL too arid for its product. But this result of nv
little experience, has, think, CLEARLY proved that il will
not only flourish WELL but that il very difficult if not
impossible TO eradicate il.
think, on reflection, that il was in February 1876
that sowed two acres in clover and timothy with lii
lie OATS intended shield against the heat of the SUM-
ne latter took the lead, maured and cut, leaving
The former thlny covered over the surface 1t suf-
eeu 10 remain that season. and TO seed the ground
he spring foowing being very wet, the whole sur
lace was completely covered with the most luxuria
growth of clover and timothy that ever saw. At the
proper time 1T was moved and all who were as
onshcd at its product The next year proved dry and
II did not succeed well.
The high prices of cotton the cultivation of which al
tat tune seemed TO absorb every other pursuit. induced
Inc to abandon the idea of grazing which contemplated
at the commencement of my experiment and the clover
patch was poughed up very deer, with Two horse
oarshare Tor potatoes, preparatory TO crop of cotton
which followed and continued three or four wears
successfully not yielding less than thousand pounds
oil gre en- seed per
1t was MANFRED and planted in corn feet eight
inches in the drill TO contend for premium offered by
our agricultural society. The product was 50 bush
els and three pecks per acre, Notwithstanding suffered
severely from drought; otherwise all who saw grow
ing believed that it would have made from seventy
eighty bushels per acre. The year following it was
sowed in rye yielding fine CROP then rested one year;
and finally sowcd in oats last February, and to my as
tonshtacnt, as well as all who have seen it, a fine
growth oil clover has sprung up where there had not
been the least vestige for ten years.
scattered over about two acres but acre or
little less, has turned off very nearly four large wagon
loads OF hay much piled four large mules could
draw He must be sceptcal, indeed who does not be
eve that the red clover" be successfully cultivated
at least in our upper districts after the result which
have stated.
Hoping that its cultivation may become general, and
believing that it is of the utmost Importance, not only
In renovatng our exhausted fields but furnishing the
means OF rearing stock, which all must admit
nc necessary in these tarifc times, beg leave TO sub
scribe myself very respectfully, yours sc.
JOHN L. CALHOUN.
tIho Mhiio cloyer