Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-07-29
DEEP FLOWING -TURNING UN-
= DER CLOVER.

Mr.. Thomas Foster has recently fur
nished the writer an account of some ex-
periments in deep blowing and turning
under clover, made on his farm in Clar-
cndon, O.leans county, that may be of
interest to others.
The most interesting experiments we're
made on q field situated on an elevated
ridge, at some distance from the barns
and not convenient TO manure with barn
yard manure. The soil is a limestone,
clayey loan, naturally good, but was re-
duced by repeated cropping, without
seeding down or msnurIng, before it was
purchased by Mr.. Foster. 1t then pro
duced about fifteen bushes OF wheat per
acre, and was seeded 10 clover. The
next season, when the clover was in
blossom, it was plowed under. The plow
wss taken on TO the barn floor aud set TO
run enc foot deep, and the field plowed
with it thus guaged; but the actual depth
plowed averaged ten inches. The land
was then fitted with the harrow and cul-
IvatOr, not plOwed again, and the wheat
sown broadcast; the yield was twenty
five bushels Of Mediterranean wheat per
acre.
Clover was soHn with the wheat, and
the next spring this clover was plowed
under for corn, which gave q splendid
crop. The rext season this field was
again plowed dep, summer fGllowed and
sown TO wheat which also gave heavy
crop. Clover was s0Wn with this crop of
wheat aiso, and the next season saved for
seed-the first crop giving over three
bushels per acre; the subsequent growth
that season was left on the land. THIS
vas ia 1869. II 1870 the clover again
made a heavy growth, aEd when in bios
som was turned under, blowing. as deep
as first described, and the land fitted and
sown 10 Tread 5ell wheat. Mr.. Foster
says there is now spleGdid crop of wheat
on the ground, which all who nave seen
it estimate at 40 bushels per acre; he says
that if nothing happens to the crop it msy
go 40 bushels.
hr. Foster Gays that blowing under
clover is the easiest and best way to
manure such land. 1t makes the soil
loose and mellow, and one good span of
horses viii pillow his field SIS deep as de-
scribej without difficulty. Turning under
clover and deep blowing are all that are
needed to make the land very productive,
except plaster on the clover; no other
fertilizers are needed, ard even the straw
may be sold or used for the benefit Of
other parts of the farm, as may be con-
venient.
He also said that blowing under clover
is the best way TO manage clay land, and
related an instance in which field plowed
up very hard and lumpy the Jumps 80
large and hard that they had 10 be
pounded to pieces before the land could
be got into coed condition for wheat.
Flowing under one crop of clover made
great difference in this land; no more
large Jumps were seen, and now, after
several crops of clover have been plowed
under, the soil works up loose and mellow
without the least difficulty. 1t is thus
evident that large amount of labor may
be saved, as well as S great increase of
fertility be secured, 10y q judicious use Of
clover.
Mr.. Foster also related an experiment
of top dressing wheat with rotten manure.
This manure was piled in the spring, and
lime mixed with it when piled at the
Of manure. The wheat was well put in
Oh summer fallOw, and Immediately af-
ter sowing, the manure was finely spread
ON tie surface. This gave thirty six
and half bushels of VIII 1t per
acre. This crop was grown last
year. Clover was sown with the wheat,
and this spring the land was well manfred
with coarse manure, plowed and planted
10 corn, and has splendid crop now
growing.
MIR. Foster also spoke very favorably
of his tenant who raises these crops and
carries ont these operations under his
general directions. The farm was first
let for one year. but the tenant has now
had it five years. Others have asked how
long he was going to stay, saying they
would like to get him if any change was
expected; but Mr.. Foster says the tenant
can stay as long as he does as well as he
has done.
This is an example that should not be
overlooked by men that take farms.
There are thousands that only fail of pro-
curing permanent situations on good
farms like this, because they don't farm
well. In England, farmers prefer to rent
land instead of buying it, as their monty
used to work the farm, pays much batter
interest than when invested in land.
With good farming this may often be the
case here, and the tenant do better by
thoroughly working good farm than by
any other course he could tske.-COe0l-
try Gentleman.