The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-11-06
RED CLOVER.

We copy the following article from 9th
Land We Love" for November. We think
was written by DIR. c. L. Eunter of Lincol
county, N. c., one of the best informed agricul
turists in the United States:
1t is we'll known to the agricultural world
that the introduction of clover into England
| produced an entire revolution in her agriculture
Its value as fertilizer of the soil added to it
value as food for cattle, made it one of the mos
important crops grown. "The action Of its lon,
and powerful tap-roots is not only mechanical
loosening the soil and admitting the air-bu
also chemical, serving to fix the gases importan
| to enrich the earth, and when these roots decay
they add largely to that black mass of matter
we call the soil It serves, also, by its luxurian
foliage, to destroy annual weeds which spring
up on newly seeded fields, especially after i'm
perfect cultivation. But one of it's most val
liable uses, and one too often overlooked, is to
shade the surface of the soil and also in this
way to increase its fertility" (Fliut's Grasses.
1t is said whenever clover is moved the tap.
root strikes deeper into the soil and if the soil
is good and porous the oftener the top is cut off,
the deeper will the roots penetrate. Mr. Thomas,
of Milwaukee, makes the following statement
"Several years ago, whilst 10 England, an &C.
quaintance of mine, the late Charles Colling,
Esq, had field of oats which were altogether
a very fine crop, but yet on some portions of the
field, was much fuller and heavier crop than
on other portions; and on being asked the reason
by party of gentlemen who were visiting his
farm, he replied last year the whole of this field
was in clover, a great portion of which was
moved off for the purpose of stall feeding my
work horses as required That portion Of the
field on which the oats are lightest is where the
clover was nown only once; that part which is
something heavier is where the clover crop was
cut tuice; and that part of the field which now
bears the heaviest and most luxuriant crop of
oats, is where the clover crop was moved off
three times during last summer"
A great advantage in the cultivation Of clover
consists in its rapid growth. La moderately
good, we'll titled soils, it requires but few
months to produce abundant and nutritious
crop, relished by cattle of all kinds. The late
Col. Groom, of Ala, one of the most successful
agriculturalsts of his day, said, in letter to
friend, 'you would scarcely believe me, were I
to tell you how valuable my clover is to me-
Besides the grazing OF my sheep, colts, calves,
&c, it netts me $50 per acre in pork alone. La
addition, it requires no expense, and the land is
improving all the time. BY means of my clover
pastures last year, my crop was, for this country,
a remarkable one. To each efficient hand, I
made ten bales of cotton, eight hundred pounds
of pork, two hundred bushels of corn, and the
wheat necessary for family use Besides this, [
sold eight thousand pounds Of fat mutton, and
one thousand pounds of butter. I mention this
not by way of boasting, but to show you that
grazing and planting may be p:oftably blended"
Col Groom also informs US that before the
introduction of the red clover on his estate, he
could never produce the supplies of meat neces-
sary for his laborers. His slaves received each
six pounds Of bacon per week, and bread, sweet
potatoes, cabbage, pumpkins, and peas, ad libi-
tum 1t is question whether their condition
has been improved, physically or morally, by
emanci ipation.
We will continue to quote from Col. Groom
ga proper supply of pasturage is the great want
of Southern husbandry. Unless this want shall
be better supplied, our agriculture must con-
tinue to decline. A routine of crops which
furnish plentiful supply Of grass, hay and
small grain, is essential both for successful rear
ing of stock, and the improvement of our soils.
1.-The agricultural statistics of England show
that while she has some ten millions of acres in
crops she has fifteen millions in grasses and
pasturage
"There are portions of Virginia and North
Carolina, which, twenty years ago, Che writes 10
1850 were SO quilted and exhausted by the
continuous cultivation of the two hoe crops,
tobacco aud Indian corn, that it was Difficult. to
sell them at three or four dollars acre. These
lands now sell at from forty to one hundred
dollars an acre, and are annually increasing in
value under a different treatment. Where
formerly were seen the gaunt cow and horse, the
half starved hog and sheep, are now to be found
fat and improved animals Of every kind, and
I'll 20 LII md hI,,o
grass. Now what has caused this revolution
Simply the change from the unremitted hoe
crops, Indian corn and tobacco, to judicious
system of rotation, aud proper attention to ma
nure, which, while it has improved the soil, at
the same time has furnished plentiful supply
of grass and hay"
Col. Peters, another distinguished Southern
agriculturist, writes to Col. Groom: 81 am un-
der obligation to you for the hints you gave me
on red clover and hogs. | have proved every
word to the letter. | back all you have to say
in praise of red clover. give up corn IN the
future until my hogs are put up to fatten; and
have arranged for clover summer and winter
1t acts like charm. / have now three hun
dred acres of clover and grasses; shall SOW down
one hundred acres more this year, and by 1867
will be prepared for clover rotation"
Mr. Robert Nelson, of Macon, GA, says, Ito
the Southern Cultivator,) "The doctrine that
red clover will not do when the soil is deficient
in lime, has made its round through our agri--
cultural papers; aud Dick has SO often repeated
what Harry told him, without trying it for him
self in proper way, that everybody now thinks
it fine excuse for no. growing clover. was
raised in a clover growing country and can as.
sure you that | have seen beautiful fields OF
clover on land that did not contain any lime
But clover requires deeply worked and finely
pulverized soil. The way of starting clover
field, however, may not be known to some Of