The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-03-14
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BENEFITS Of Glover.

Glover is one of the principal means of the
farmer to renovate his farm and to improve his
stock. In Europe and the Eastern States The
most is made of it, and it is found to be an agent
that may be used to various advantage. -,
1t ID a rank grower.
Win grow upon poor soil with the aid of fer.
tilizers, particularly plaster. al t-,i lLz
Draws much Of its strength from the atnos-
phere. -.
Fertilizss the ground by its long root
Abstracts strength from the subsoil which is
out OF the reach of the grains and the grasses
Mellows the ground. .
Produces two or three crops of good hay in
season. 1875
Furnishes abundant pasturage sos..4s ~ st
Is excellent to turn under and fertilize the
SOIL where manure cannot be used-as where the
distance Is too great to carry it. or the land mac
cessible, as on uplands of steep ascent
Is a sure crop. .s rl...hf- 30 .vF.a
no gram no plant will do as much. Hence
1t Is grown where it is fully understood, and
grown continuously and abundantly.
Ihe Vest is well adapted to it. Its deep rich
anderson Is Just what is wanted for the long
reaching tap-roots Of the clover. Hence the
abundance In which it is grown where cultiva-
ted Three crops readily be grown in a
season OF the medium-sized; or two crops-and
the third be left as winter protection, to be fed
on to some extent where rank. This will pre-
vent washing the soil, and will greatly enrich it
and protect It, This protection Is more than is
usually supposed. Experiments have demon
strated It, But the soil must be dry or drained,
50 that no heaving takes place.
Two crops of clover, set thick, and grown
rank, Will afford Il large amount OF hay; and if
cut early, when the stalk is tender and the nu-
TRENT properties are held in solution, will afford
hay unsurpassed. 1t will afford greater flow
OF mix than perhaps any other plant; 1t least
THIS Is the experience so lar We have been able
to ascertain. We cannot urge too much the i'm
portance OF clover as hay-cut, be it remem-
bered, the right time; else it is comparatively
worthless. Ibis Is now the experience Of the
dairy districts. We have seen its virtues ,sested
and We know whereof we speak
The best time for sowing is early in the spring
on the light SHOWS that sometimes occur Less
seed may III such case be used-sav two TO three
quarts less, Is the track in the snow will enable
the sower 70 scatter his seed evenly, and commit
no errors.
There is considerable diversity of opinion as
TO the amount OF seed to be- sown 10 the acre
Some sow peck, some twelve quarts, some half
OusheI, and some more, while less than eight
quarts is scattered by some The greater auan-
tity Is the safest and most successful.
1t Is 4 pity to use much seed" is the
thought OF many; and it is only after a thorou III
lesson that they will be led 20 adopt the "expen-
sive' mode. We know farmer who makes it "a
rule TO SOW two bushels of mixed clover and
timothy to the acre. This he has done for many
years; and his meadows are unsurpassed he
has meadows when others fail in this respect
II IN no Others he certainly succeeds But he
succeeds in Others HIS meadows are heavier:
III, grass Is thicker, ,closer,l finer, and better
sod Is formed Perhaps a little less seed would
be equally good; but he thinks not. Doubtless
II Is better 10 err on the safe side Let your
motto DE, not TO spare the seed.
II sown with spring grain, il should be sown
early SO as to get the spring rains, and catch
will be insured. There will be fall feed better,
mulch 70 protect the roots. Or sow in the fall,
II Drop IS wanted the succeeding year. Two
heavy crops may thus be gathered and y good
after-iecd be secured. This will pay, often bet
ter than when sown with spring grain. Circum-
stances VIII dictate what course to pursue.
The manure OF clover l. very rich, and should
be carefully saved. \ start, with some perse-
verance, is all that is necessary to establish
growing clover