Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-12-12
agricultural department.

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From the Farm and Garden.
HOW TO CULTIVATE CLOVER.
MARTINS DEPOT, S. G., July 5th, ST.
In accordance with your request, I give
my experience in raising clover, which I
do more cheerfully, as believe I have the
secret of success, thoug h 1 make no claim
to its discovery, for I owe the suggestion to q
friend who lost his life in Tennessee, nobly
battling for Southern rights. have was
ted much labor and seed in trying the North
ern and Western system Of sowing clover
with some other crop, and only succeeded,
in one instance, in getting stand in that
way, and that was on rich lot with thin
stand of barley, which I killed out the next
Spring by pasturing too early, and too
closely. The secret is to cultivate the land
well the preceding year, say in cotton, corn
or potatoes, 80 as to leave no seed of crab
grass (weeds do not hurt 50 much.) Pre-
pare the ground well, by ploughing and
narrowing smoothly, and if not rich, by
manuring. This should be done about the
middle of March, and Immediately SOW
eight or nine pounds of seed to the acre. I
usually SOW by stakes, thus saving the
trouble of laying of-sowing a land of nine
feet. A new beginner had better always
try small piece of land, measuring both
land and seed, as he may waste great deal
of seed if he goes to guessing. l sow very
regularly, by keeping the two last fingers
clenched, allowing the thumb and two fngg-
gers to do the work. I first throw out with
the first finger, and then with the other,
making two licks for each handful. By
taking the ordinary wheat sowing gait, this
plan will SOW about the right quantity of
seed. After sowing, I would somewhat
prefer to run good iron-toothed harrow
over it, but if not convenient, it will do well
without covering, as the first shower will
cover it sufficiently. The only advantage
that I have ever seen in covering was in
getting an early stand, but if good show
er falls soon after planting you will not dis
cover the difference, though it will show if
it is dry. ...~.........- ..
Now close up your clover field, and let
nothing into it until the clover is year
old. About the middle of May, when the
first blossoms begin to turn brown, the clo-
yer is ready to cut. If you want to Craze
it, let it get in bloom first, then you can't
we'll kill it, but if you attack it too early,
and Craze too closely, you are liable to
lose your stand. If the summer should be
very hot and dry, you may fear that your
clover is gone, but if you have half stand
in the fall, there is no cause of fear, and do
not be discouraged, for in the spring you
will be rewarded for all your trouble. We
used our first. crop this year, in feeding in
the green state to mules and cows-cutting
it with moving blade. We are now cut
ting the second crop for hay. but this crop
will not do for horses, though good for COWS
and sheep. ... .-
If this plan is pursued, I feel confident
that clover may be made to grow on any
land that has fertility enough to produce a
good crop of cotton, though the richer the
better. In some seasons it will do we'll if
sown in the fail, but the winter must be very
favorable, though it is about as easily killed
out as oats. In very favorable season,
and on very rich, moist, land, an Indifferent
stand may be had by sowing with some one
of the different grain crops, but nine times
out of ten such an experiment in our eli
mate and soil, will result in disappointment
and Encouragement. Iregard half stand
of clover as worth more than any other
crop, and nothing in the way of crop can
be raised with nearly, if not quite as much
certainty as oats can be.
When stand is once secured, it will
last if properly managed, some four years,
and then by turning in the fall and cult
waiting in corn or. cotton, followed. by wheat,
a good stand will again come. A little
plaster or stable manure, or both, will al
ways add to the crop. I prefer moving to
pasturing, as thus you cut away all weeds
that stock usually leave, thereby helping
the clover to take entire possession Of the
land. I do hope that every man in the
State will try at least small patch, when
he can see for himself its value, and he may
add to his crop to his liking. The seed is
worth from eight to twelve dollars per bush.
ell, weighing sixty pounds, and bushel
will SOW we'll eight acres. All animals, in.
cluding hogs do we'll on the first crop, but
the second crop should not be given to
horses, either dry or green. This has been
very favorable year for clover this far,
and we have had two cuttings, from two to
three feet each crop. I have tried clover
in land that had never been cultivated, but
never very successfully. Red, stiff land,
is most favorable to its growth, but it will
do we'll on any of our land that is rich
enough, unless very sandy.
I think I have covered the whole ground,
and I have tried to be plain. If anything
has been overlooked, I will FIJI up the omis'
sion when my attention is called to it,
With my best wishes for the success OF
your paper, l am
Your obedient servant,
+ JAMES W. WATTS.
! HEN SIGNS.