The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1868-02-11
Agricult ur 1.
TFoR THE wEsTERN DEMOCRAT.
Clover anar5GraSS Culture.


most painstaking and perfect in Europe. Yet
the regular labor on Flemish farm of 100 acres
is an average of two iaborers. At times, as m
hay and grain harvest, an extra force is required
This average would apply to the best farming
countries of Europe If the farmers of the South
raised their own horses, mules, beef, pork, NUT
ton, wool, cheese and butter, they could so man
are their lands as to produce the same amount OF
grain or anything else, from half the quantity of
land now employed for that purpose To do this,
yye must incorporate ons feature of Softhefs and
European agriculture into our own-that feature
by which they improve their lands, appreciate
their values. and at the same time receive an
nual and remunerative returns with the use OF |
small amount of .labor-that feature is the ex-
tensive cultivation of the artificial grasses ~
1t is said, however, that clover and the artif
cal grasses do not succeed at the South. Neither
would cotton corn or wheat succeed II put into
poor ground and left without after culture. This
opinion is greatly dependent upon an improper
comparison between the North and the South.
Persons going from the closely grazed pastures of
the South in August to green pastures at the
North at the same time, determine hastily that
grass culture with us is useless. But suppose
the same persons went fropa well laid and greer
orchard grass clover Easture at the South IN
March or April to one Of the same kind at the
| North at the same season, and found the latter
stiff frozen or covered with snow, might they not
as well saw that grass culture is useless at the
| North? The North has the advantage in mid
! summer we have it in autumn, winter and spring
Indeed actual experiments have settled the TACT
that success in the growth OF clover is not ques-
ton of climate, but rather of soil. 1t will grow
anywhere if the land be made sufficiently rich
and if be not too closely grazed during the heat
of summer. The chief difficulty in its culture is
obtaining good stand This difficulty most
generally arises from the poverty of the ground
in which it is sown. The young plants not
having sufficient nutriment for an immediate
growth are snothcred by crab grass or weeds
| natural to the soil. If the time of sowing be
selected which will enable the young plants to
strike their tap-roots into the soil before the
weeds begin to grow afterwards they defy all
opposition
| The best season for sowing clover is the time
4 OF sowing turnips, very early wheat " hen
once established the value of clover can hardly
be exaggerated. Ashes, leachcd or unleached,
are the best manure for it, where lime is too ex-
pensive Plaster greatly stimulates its growth,
using only one bushel to the acre. If fall SOW
ING is mpracticable it will do to SOW it in Feb
ruary or March after snow, either on small
grain or not, though the ground should have
been previously we'll prepared. Not less than
g four quarts per acre should be sown, though SIX
would be better Where the object is to turn
the crop under for manure, it is not proper to
SOW rrass seed with it. For either pasturage OF
: moving. it is always better to SOW bushel OF
: orchard grass seed with the clover. When 1t Is
designed to cultivate either grass or clover to any
great extent the farmer can raise his own seed
In the nurchase of seed care should be used that
pure seed are obtained By wetting the fingers
!, and pushing them into the seed enough will ad
J.. here to show whether they contain the seeds o.
noxious weeds. Care should also be used IL
> purchasing seed from reliable dealer as age I'M
pairs their vitality. The failure to get stane
often arises from the use of seed that will mo-
eerminate. This is often the case with herds
GRASS FOR red-top) seed which should be sown OF
boogy or moist land Both clover and grass seee
should be covered lightly, if at all.
. With reference again to the suitableness o
s our soil and climate to grass and clover culture
;, 1t was long supposed that we could not rals
/ winter fruits at the South, yet our winter apple
n n and pears, where properly cultivated, are equa
=" To the Northern. North Carolina apples tool
the nremium of the American Pomological So
ciety several years ago. 1t was long suppose
that we could not make wine, yet fair experl
=, ments have proved that We live in wine-groW
= inc country 1t was supposed that we could no
lie make malt-liquors, yet excellent beer is now mad
t. in MANY parts of the South. 1t was suppose
that the wool of the Saxon and Merino shce
would deteriorate in our warm climate, yet at tn
is Worlds Fair In London. Southern wool was tn
Oh finest ON exhibition We might make as goo
e cheese and tan better leather than we buy. Gu
GREAT need is to infuse thought into the farmer
business. The future agricultural operations
l. the country will not cannot be carried on by tn
unthinking African, in days gone by; and
~ - we are to redeem the occupation OF the farme
:. from something of it's drudsery-beeulle 1t {
something of its WEAKNESS, We must connect Wit
er II eadwork as we'll as hand-work, as there Is
It's that of the merchant. the manufacturer, or tn
professional man We know of no better way
do this than the regular reading OF an agricu
TN tnral naper where one farmer talks to anotht
of about his experience, and gives his views abo'
st this that. or the other thing connected with
on business. This will compel thought, and ne
era will begin Northern hay will not then !
sold in our cities and towns. The artihci
as orasses which do not require annual seedlr
nd and working. will cover much OF our now useie
s,doe-felds instead of long-bodied peach al
annie tree standing here and there in the 1en'
c. corner. in lifelong struggle with brars al
- snrouts. there will be we'll cultivated orchards
~ all kinds of fruits, which do not reoSire to
planted every year and plowed three times to
cure a crep The labor-saving implements W
do much that s now done by hands that
ate kept so busy that there is no leisure for hea
vnrt last but not least the merchant and G