Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-03-01
Clover...HOw 1t Enrlches the Land.

WE arD afraid of clover. We are afraid
to raise it largely afraid TO, feed u ex.
tensively especially as main feed, and |
afraid to plow 1t under.
This Is wrong, very wrong. We are
constantly losing by not growing, more |
clover Losing in many respects. Clover,
II we could only impress the fact on the |
general farther, is plant that draws from |
the atmosphere and enrichgs the land, |
Other plants do this but clover more. 1t
has to do with the most vital and impor-
tunt element in manure, nitrogen, the |
very thing that Is the rarest and most diff |
ficult to obtain IL improves the soil by |
its roots alone, the crop used for other |
ptrposes; this even If d seed crop is |
taken. How much more benefit, |
then, If whole crop is turned |
down, containing so much nitrogen And
you have the manure without working for
1t. The plant works for itself and foryou.
We get its strength from free source,
the atmosphere, the great storehouse
BhiHh Gdthets from, all sources, but most
from the negligent farihtf
And you can make this plant work for
you on poor SOIL and almost anywhere.
| All IL needs is q start. A little manure
applied on the surface will do this and if
plenty of seed Is sown, there will be n
| thick set Then It needs but q chahee
with the atmosphere, and plaster will aid
this greatly. There will, with warm
showers and winds, be growth almost
SURPRISING. II win be dense, fner-stem-
med, and of fair length, depending some
what on the SEASON. Cut this when it be-
gins to lodge, Which will be about the
time when the blossoms appear, and there
will be avoided all rot or mildew, conse'
quent on long, coarse lodging, and the
yield will surprise you-two and half or
three TONS and such hay as is not made
from any other plant. Ana the second
crop will be nearly or quite asgood as the
first the past year it was better-a heavl-
er Weld on account of the showers.
Now we have known. and THAT in a
goodIy number OF acres, where from SIX
to eight tons per acre were realized in two
cuttings, and heavy aftergrowth for
projections And this hay, tii1e.stettimed,
green and tender, with the fragrance of
its stalk and blossom unimpaired, rushing
upon you rs you open the hay, so green
in winter compared with other fodder
and this put before cattle, calves, horses,
shebpi Some will object to It's use for the
horse; but we have tested this thing, and
seen il tested so much, that we know
whereof we speak. "But clover alone
that all the while"
This is the thought that always pre-
sents Itself: Farmers are afraid to feed
: clover alone, or largely. Horsemen are
shy of it, which still further discourages.
Besides, we have not carefully tested
with good clover hay, green and well
cured; we feed the hard stuff generally,
- and that is worse than ripe timothy or
f straw Who has given green clover a
thorough test cut in the full bltsh of
fragrance, with all its substance availa-
bic, including its health-giying influence
who has done this and noted the effect
compared with other fodder, and for a
3 sufficient time, say for months, or all
= winter? Very few, indeed Can any one
$ who reads this bring to mind any casesf
| There are such, however, and they never
go back to the old dead feed again. They
, have learned to keep stock without grain
that expense is saved them Now their
: stock is better, all things considered,
than before; is stronger, nimbler, health
/ ier, and there is more milk, and better
: growth of young stock. 1t is like keep.
| ing on pasture during the winter-better
e in some respects-there is less water.
= Bowels are perfect-in summer often too
, free, reducing the animal. And during
the milking period, during the fall and
E spring, no grain is fed, no fodder is cut;
'lANiS 10 a Auii Hu'iiitibN va ann ~
is rich, making excellent cheese, and
5 largely, but not so good in flavor for but.
/ ter as is wished. This thing has been
: DONE as We KNOWS done, and will be
t done more abundantly. Why not now
= engage in it-at least, test it fairlyg
Begin by preparing your ground we'll
the better you prepare it the better will
r be your crop; if made quite rich and
Y deeply mellow, fit to grow any grain,
g there will be corresponding yield, no
| loss, and little or no risk, This is the
l beauty of clover--you may rely upon it,
+ unless you wish to raise seed; then you
must understand your business, the de
+ tails Of which we have no time here TO
point out But as a forage crop, you are
{ safe if you get a start, n good catch, and
7 with plaster, you will get good yield,
G not less than four tons per acre from the
two cuttings-there should always he two
cuttings indeed it is imperative to good
/ success, as this will give you the hay, cut
| early, in its green, tender state, and leave
: the roots vigorous and pushing forward,
with continuation of the growth for the
: third crop, the aftermath, which remains
: untouched for protection and start in
the spring, this growth aflording large
amount of fertilizing material for the
next years growth Stock Journal