Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-08-08
CLOVER,

4
items connected with clover experiments in
our own State. The most striking of these
is the trial given it by the late lamented
THOMAS ]. SUMNER, of Pomaria, Newberry
District. How any farmer can read the ac-
count of his complete success and not be fired
with the desire of following in the track Of
his experiment, we cannot well understand.
There are red lands in our District which
must be admirably adapted to the production
of clover, about Cambridge and Liberty Hill
for instance, and we should think our farmers
in those neighborhoods ought at least to
test this matter. By the bye, what has be-
come Of the demonstration of our friend,
Mr.. JAMES RICHARDSON, in this line2 The
last we heard was that he had succeeded as
we'll as could have been expected. Shall we
not have the pleasure of hearing from him
on the subject! Does the thing hold out
well? &C., &c.
But we give the extracts from Col. GROOM
Next, we come to the proof positive.
In letter written by John K. Calhoun, to
the Editor of the American Farmer, and da-
ted Pendleton, S. G., July, 1929, he says, the
cultivation of Clover has been heretofore
neglected from an impression that the heat
of our sun was too intense and our soil too
arid for its production. But the result of
my little experience has, think, clearly
proved that it will not only flourish we'll, but
that it is difficult, if not impossible to eradi.
cate it.
He goes on to say, that as early as Febu.
ary, 1916, he sowed two acres in Clover.
1t was suffered the first year to remain un-
molested and drop its seed. The following
spring, the entire surface was covered with
the most luxuriant crop Of Clover he ever
saw. At the proper time it was moved, and
all who saw it was astonished at its product.
The Timothy sown with it was remarkably
6ne
The high price Of cotton at that period,
caused the neglect of the Clover, and the
land the next year was deeply plowed with
two horse plow for potatoes, preparatory
to cotton crop. The fifth, sixth and seventh
years, this piece Of land was cultivated in
cotton, yielding each year not less than 1000
lbs. of green seed cotton per acre. The
ninth year thoroughly plowed and manured
far a premium crop of corn, and yielded
some sixty bushels to the acre and would
probably have made one fourth more, but for
severe drouth. The following year made
fine crop of rye. The next year rested
then, asown in oats in February, and, to his
astouishment, a fine crop of Clover succee-
ded the oats.
Mr.. Calhoun very justly remaks in the
conclusion Of his letter, that he must be
sceptical, indeed, who does not believe, in
the face of such proof, that Red Clover can
he successfully cultivated, at least, in the up
per districts Of South Carolina"
Another experiment equally convincing
was made by Col. B:H. Saxon, in the Able.
vile District of South Carolina, the details
of which are given by Thomas Parker, in a
letter to the same Editor and dated in April,
1881.
Col. Saxon sowed Clover in his plantation
garden in 1s23-first year permitted to re-.
main and drop its seed-second year a
luxuriant crop of Clover-third year in corn !;
the. Clover appeared 10 be entirely destroyed.
The fourth year wheat and when it was cut,
the Clover was thick on that part of the
ground on which it was growing two years
before. The fifth year it was allowed to re-
main and grow with such luxuriance, as to
attract general attention. 1t was not cut,
but was allowed to 60 to seed and the seed
gathered. The sixth and seventh years in
corn. The eighth year in corn-the ninth in
cotton and there is, he says, in the month
of April after the cotton was planted, great
deal of Clover on the ground.
la the same letter, Mr.. Parker refers to
several successful attempts to cultivate Clo-
YER near the seaboard of South Carolina,
which are recorded in the first volume of the
Southern Agriculturist.
The late Thomas J. Summer, whose early
death Science and Southern Agriculture have
so much cause to mourn, also made an expe.
riment with Red Clover in the big hest degree
conclusive and satisfactory. Prompted as
well by an intutive sagacity as by benig-
uant heart, young Summer, turning away
from the allurements of selfish and vulgar
ambition, sought in Europe under the most
eminent masters, such as Liebig. Burzeluis
and others, the means of accomplishing him.
self in Agricultural Science, that he might
be qualified to aid and advance the leading
interest of his State and nation. His able
analysis of the cotton plant fully establishes
his scientific atlainments, while his expert
ment with Red Clover no less evinces ca
pacity and an aptitude for uniting Scientific
with practical Agriculture, which, had his life
been spared, would have made him an orna-
ment and blessing to his country. Asking
pardon for the DEPRESSION into which our
feelings have seduced US, to pay feeble
tribute to one whose affections and talents
were devoted to our great cause, return we
now TO the experiment before alluded to. !.
Mr.. Summers experiment was made on
the clay land of Pomaria, in Newberry Dis.
trict By the aid of Gypsum and cotton
seed composted in the mule stables, bounti-
fully applied, he cut from six acres of land
in single season, sixty two thousand pounds
of Clover and Crab Grass Hay, for which
the South Carolina Institute awarded him
the Society's medal. The cost Of fertilizers,
preparation of the soil, &C., &c, was $72
for the six acres. 1t was seeded in barley