The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1862-02-26
HOW TO GROW CLOVER ON SANDY
SOILS.


We clip the following inquiry and reply
for this very important subject from the
" Wisconsin Farmer" Let none of our
readers PREJUDICE the article before reading,
as coming from latitude too high. II con-
tains valuable suggestions. which. il put in
to practice on much Of the sandy lands Of
the South, might in few years clothe many
Of our old sedge fields in living green"
luxurisnt clover pastures. Will not some
of our sandy land readers try it. On our
prairie lands il is only necessary to sow the
clover seed, but few of our planters will
even do that. Colon Planter.
Zone thing which we most need in this
section is TO know how to make clover and
the other grass seeds grow and thrive on our
sandy knolls and hills, which form great
proportion Of our soil here. Now, if you
or some one through the columns of the
Farmer could give us this desirable infor-
nation, you would confer real favor on the
farming community in this region Of coun-
try"
Clover is one Of the most valuable plants
cultivated by the farmer. and we are glad to
see the interest manifested by the farmers Of
Marquette county, though not confident Of
being able to give them all the aid and
comfort they require. The inquiry covers
a wide field, and we shall therefore confine
our present reply to the clover plant, leav-
ing the other grasses to subsequent num-
bers.
Our friends in Marquette are doubtless
aware fully, that clover, of all the ordinary
grasses. contains the largest per cent. Of
lime. In order to its most successful growth,
therefore, il requires stiff, or tenacious
loan, with considerable proportion Of lime
and clay in its composition, just the oppo-
site Of that described in the communication
above.
In moist climate, or even in moderate
" dry climate, il not subject to serious
drouths. il will succeed well on sandy loans.
Still this is not the soil TO which il is natu-
raj. and as all plants are imperative aud un-
compromising in their demands, always re-
fusing TO thrive except under circumstances
friendly 10 their constitutions and tastes, the
only remedy in case Of i'll adapted soils is,
TO make them as nearly as possible what they
ought to be.
II clay loan and line are within reach.
and can be applied without too much ex-
pensc, let them be added TO the soil. The
clay will need to be applied but once, and
the lime can be economically obtained at al
most any railroad station in the State. in the
form OF plaster which is sulphate Of lime.
Wood ashes also contain portion Of lime
and other mi neral elements essential 90 clo-
yer, and moreover improve The ply sical
qualities of dry soils. Twenty or thirty
bushels 20 the acre of unleached ashes. or
three tines the quantity if leached, nigh. be
added with advantage. The quantity Of
each Of the above named substahces--clay
and lime--wilI Of course depend upon the
degree Of the deficiency 10 The soil to be i'm
proved. Sometimes sandy soil is found
resting on clay. as basis. in which case
thorough subsoiing, with the subsequent use
Of lime in some form, would fl il for luxu.
RANT crops Of clover. Once established in
the soil. aud there IS no crop in the world so
happy in its influence upon land.
Feeding, as II does, SO largely out OF the
atmosphere. manufacturing its gaseous ele-
ments into roots which bear so large pro-
portion TO the crop removed. and spreading
its stocks and leaves over the thus shaded
surface. 10 the exclusion and killing out Of
weeds, il is at once cleaner and fertilizer
OF the soil.
In soil quite poor and sandy. we would
recommend as further means Of prepara-
ton. the application Of composted manures
and succession Of two or three crops "a
vorable to an increased supply Of organic
matter in the soik The adoption Of this
course would necessarily involve some de.
lay. but il certainly ought not to be CON-
planned Of. if after series of remunera,ive
crops. the soil can thus be brought up to
good clover. growing condition.
Perhaps the following would prove as good
a system as any we could suggest:
Having prepared the soil &C indicated. by
A r. ~x.~ .~I .n.r ros