The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1856-01-30
From the Southern Farmer.
SOWING GLOVER SEED.

MERsRs. EDiToRs In the Farmer of the
5th you give some general directions as to
the proper season for seeding clover. Asmy
experience differs somewhat from the practice
therein recommended, take the liberty of
giving il TO you for what il is worth. For
seven years followed the general practice Of
sowing clover seed in the month Of January,
or early part ol February. During that peri
od did not succeed, in any one year, in OBJ
tanning good or satisfac tory stand, the field
always presenting an irrcgularand tuftcd ap-
pearance, with patches Ut good clover, but
with larger patches where there was none. In
one nf these years. the difficulty Of procuring
clover seed, caused the scedingof 90 acres to
be delayed until the month Of March. On
this portion Of the fed there followed lux
uriaut growth of clover, while on the larger
portion, sown in January, the crop was irregu.
lar and Indifferent.
For ten succeeding years abandoned the
practice of early seeding, postponing the ope,
ration till after the middle Of March, and as
latr as the 10th Or | 9th of apri; aud during
this period did not fail to obtain a good and
fair stand of plants. The quantity Of seed
sown during these years averaged sixty bush
els, at the rate Of one gallon per acre. There
was consequently sufficient extent of sur
face, as also variety in quality and texture Of
the soil, 10 test the value Of the practice. The
weight Of the following growth of clover was
Uf course influenced by The varied character
Of the soil embraced in SO large a surface, as
also The degree Of improvement given TO the
soil; but there was no failure in obtaining as
oh eta fa1 ,.f
wheat harvest OF one Of these years was fol-
lowed by severe drought nearly throughout
the months Of July and August. On Fifty acres
Of lighter portion Of the field sown in clover,
every plant was apparently killed By the
drought, and all suffered to some extent. On
these FIFTY acres scarce plant of clover was
to be seen IN the month Of January following.
and 10 remedy this apparent failure, a liberal
ltop.dressing Of stable manure, well incorpo-
rated with plaster, daily used in the stables,
was applied 10 these fifty acres. The result
was one Of the best growt!Is OF clover ! have
ever seen.
One cause IN my opinion, Of the very fire.
qncHtly partial or total failure of the clover
crop sonn in january, or eally portion Of Feb
ruary, is attributable TO the fact that in gene
tal these periods are followed by a mild snd
genial spell ol weather Sufficient to induce
The premature termination of the seed, ia
which tender condition il is too frequently
caught by lrOsts ut sufficient severity either
to entirely destroy the embroy plant, Or weak.
en- il so that il asily falls prey 10 the cold
and drying winds ol early March. While
clover Is hardy plant, and adapts iisclf 70 d
wonderfully wide aud diversified range of eli.
mate and temperature. vet, like nearly all
other plants, when gcrmnaiing, il is delicaie
and easily affected By sudden changes II
weather. As proui Of this. 10 the wear lS+g
sOwed two bushels OF clover seed on about
the 10th of October, while seeding wheat.
] lly tie middle of November. there was fall
aud hopeful stand of clover, in IFS second
leaf. Al this period, succession Of lrusts
occurred, sufficient to form considerable crust,
Ol ice Tie consequence was, that every pam
ol clover tins sowu was killed as efeclually
as il scorche,l by ffe. aud presented much the
same appearance. Clover, when soan sub
sequcnt 10 the middle uf March will rarely
germinate until the season for severe trusts
las passed, By which time the young wheat
has attained sufficient growth 10 afford be.
nrfcial protection 70 the young aud tendel
plant. | have seen clover sown on oats, earl,
IN April, completely killed by late frnst
while that sown at the same time on the
wheat was uniniurei. In presenting the above
remarks, have only stated lscts, and lea,,
my brother farmers TO form their own con
ciusions. Respectfully yours, &c., n.