The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-03-20
Gpeniug GStats Ju,lrmaL
EvE'G. MARCH. 20, ISL:
A GRrc uLrU r. AL /,


written ABOUT IL, III tlo az iiouieui"i PoPoi'
that it is not necessary to dwell on 1t a
length. Its uses are three-fold, hay, graz
ing and as an improver of land. The di
rections for curing clover hay are the sam
as for Lucerne. As pasture it is valuabl
to all kinds Of live stock. 1t is most valu
able to the hog. 1t is incredible, the mum
Der of hogs which can be keptin good orde
on few acres of clover. The use of thi
pasture will enable the planter to rais'
hogs in despite of the theft of the thief
The hog pasture can be in sight of the
house and the hogs can be penned safely al
night. An occasional feed of corn is al
that is necessary while hogs are in clover
No stock should be turned upon clover
until it is in blossom. Hogs should not be
allowed to enter the clover pasture in win
ter as the roots are then very sweet and the
hogs will eat them and thus entirely des-
troy the clover.
If clover be designed to improve land,
il should remain for two or three years and
then be turned under with two-horse
plow. Four quarts of seed are sufficient
for an acre. The seed should be covered
very lightly with roller or brush, if COW
cred at all. If sown before or during a
drizzle of rain it will need no covering.
Glover will not grow on poor land. The
soil must be in condition to produce 25
or 80 bushels of corn or IL to Is bushels
of wheat to the acre, before clover will
grow well. This good land the clover will
make better rapidly. The time of sowing
is either very early in the autumn, 1.-THE
time of sowing turnips is best,) or in Feb
ruary. If tho sowing be deferred late in
the fall the delicate plants are apt to be
winter killed. 1t is a popularity of our
soil and climate, which renders it necessa-
ry to sow clover only once If judicous ro-
tation be adopted afterward. If the clo-
yer be allowed to shed its seed one or two
years on the ground, it becomes assnatural
to the soil as crab grass, springing sponta-
neously. This is great advantage over
the North. The causes of failure in at
tempts to grow clover and grass at the
South have already been subjects of re-
marks in this essay.
White clover is an extremely valuable
plant. 1t is undervalued, because it is
rarely enclosed at the South, but is usual
ly seen in old fields or along the side of
roads and lanes where stock have constant
access to it, and it is kept down oy them.
If sown with tall grasses, it stretches up
ward and affords valuable cutting of hay |
near the ground. White clover hay is of |
the most nutritious character. AS pas
ture it is Objectionable to horses as it |
causes them to slobber, but for sheep and |
hogs it is admirable. AS a fertilizer it is |
less in quantity but better in quality even
than red clover. 1t is spontaneous
growth of our soils under favorable circunl-
stances. That is to say, if piece of
ground be MANFRED with ashes and kept |
enclosed for two or three years, at the end
of that time it will be covered with white
clover. This remark is true of the whole
State. Its value is in proportion to the
fertility of the soil in which it grows. On |
poor land it is worthless, on good land it |
is valuable, having this superiority over
red clover that it is permanent propagate
ing itself by the roots. 1t will also grow
well on sandy land if in good heart This
plant is especially recommended to land
holders in the lower part of the State.
Sow four quarts to the acre with grass
seeds.
Crimson clover succeeds well with us on
good land. There are several varieties of
it, but all that have been able to procure
are ANIMALS and so far Objectionable. A
variety is spoken of in Europe.
There is but one apparent advantage in
crimson clover. If sown in the fall on
good land with small grain it yields full /
crop after the grain is cut, and in the first
years, which is not the case with red
clover. 1t occupies about the same posi-
ion as to yalae with the vetch. A mix
lure of the two, the vetch and crimson
clover, would afford an excellent early
spring food.
The alske clover is now under expert
nent. This plant is perennial and does
lot reach its full maturity until the third
year. Thus far, the past year, it has done
we'll, but no superiority is observed over
led clover, which it much resembles. +
The sapling clover has succeeded well
n this county, Barlow. 1t is objected to
or hay on account of its liability to lodge,
out its extremely rampant growth must
make it valuable fertilizer to the soil. 1t
'equires rich land.
The above, including the vetch, lucerne,
md the varieties of the clover family, are
VII tut lUIaSc plautS WHICH nave Dc6n
ound of value as the result Of my expert
nents.
The GRASSES. The following grasses
lave been tried carefully and rejected
Feather or velvet grass, muskeet grass,
meadow vernal, meadow soft grass, Eng
ish rye grass, foxtail and some varieties Of
he prairie grass. The grasses which have
been found of value are the following
TIMOTHY. This valuable grass requires
ch land, which must be neither too wet
Tor too dry. 1t will not grow with us
high enough to cut on even rich upland.
t should be sown on bottom land that is {
Try enough for wheat M
The history of Timothy is curious as !
iven by London in his Encyclopedia of q
agriculture. at was first brought into
office lin Epgland) by Timothy Hudson,
bout 1880, who introduced il from Caro-
ma where it was in great repute." From |
lngland it is brought into the Northern
tates, and it is to be hoped from thence ii
ill find its way back again to the place of g
s nativity. Timothy hay is certainly the .
est hay made from the grasses and the J
leld is very great. There can be no doubt )
Its success on rich dry bottom land in o
ny part of the State. Sow one peck of
ed to the acre.