The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-12-21
M:Mht Earttt+
The Benefits Of Clover.
From the N. 7. Weekly Time.

We are neglecting clover. This is so de-
cided that it is greatly to be regretted.
Clover is the farmers plant. 1t has So
many ways to benefit. 1t gets its strength
nitrogen partcularly-more than any
other plant from the atmosphere, and this
is of great Importance in this age of search
ty of manure. Now, clover will do this on
comparatively poor soil; only get a good
footing, and that can be done by preparing
good seed bed, aided by sprinkling of
fine manure, the seed brushed in, unless.
what is generally better, it is sown on the
late shows on Winter grain, or, better still,
on soil prepared lin the FALL without the
grain. But you must SOW plenty OF seed.
Here is one of the secrets of success. Sow
thick and even, and clean, sound seed, and
not less than twelve quarts per acre. Very
few people take the pans to do all til 9 and
we see the result-clover thin, the small
quantity of seed sown not all coming, (be
cause too late putin, or not well bru, lie |
Or narrowed in, or land lumpy or hard
and sowed with grain. when the land is
not strong enough for grain alone. Clover
is usually grown on land that is exhausted.
This is wre,ched work. A few farmers
are in the secret; they know what it is ca
pable of; they make it a principal means of
getting manure of the very best and rarcst
kind, nitrogen. The effect is immed. late.
growing not ouly the crop in hand, but en-
riching the soil. and we repeat, with that
primest of manures, nitrogen. (How this
is done is not clear; but it is there, by ma
ture in her chemical secrecy
Now, when this plant is sown so thick, a
close set, making almost a solid body, ris-
ing eighteen to twenty eight inches, with a
blossom covered surface, head absolutely
against head, making crop, as we know,
OF from three to four tons per acre, and of
two cuttings in a season if desired. With
this thick set aud heavy crop. the roots in
the soil are almost root against root, and
of such length, the body of fertility GO
ing down into the subsoil, and the result
of this crowding is a mellow soil. The
pillow running through this, you will have
mass of mellow GROUND and fat fertility;
you have a rich, valuable soil, and it will
grow you anything. but particularly that
prince of grains, wheat. Il will grow you
sure crop, and that the first year. and leave
whatever you may wsh-nothing better
than to seed down clover again.
Now, this soil, when the clover was sown
was ordinary soil. But it was well put in
land mellow, top enriched, seed sown
early and brushed in, or sown on the late
SHOWS on Winter grain or land prepared
lin the Fall) without the grain, and the
seed sown thick. But this is not all. You
can raise a crop of clover-seed after having
cut a good crop for hay or pastured your
land, and the soil will not be impoverished
as might be supposed. The land is beau
tfully mellow, the roots fully matured, the
debris Of the plant adding fertility. Here.
in one season, you have il large crop for
hay and crop of seed, and that double or
more the usual quantity, for it must he re-
membered that you have an unusually
thick stand. There will be at least four or
five bushels of seed; if less, the crop should
be cut for hay, which can be done when
the heads are Just turned, for then it can
be determined whether there will be a good
seed crop or not. The hay is not SO good
as when earlier cut, but still good. But
the prospect is, with such a stand, SO Close
that there will be from six to eight or even
more bushels per acre. Will it be believed
that all this can be done? Three tons of
hay per acre removed, and, say seven BUSH
els OF seed per acre raised, and all in one
season, and without blowing or narrowing
simply securing the crop? Here is Il wall o
per acre of about 500, with great imprn..
ment of land instead of deterioration, as
with grain. have not pictured an excep
tional case. have practiced the cultiva-
ton of clover from boyhood up. and in a
section (Iierkimer County. New York, }
where everybody raised clover, including
the highest success as we'll as the poor. st.
Clover, Of all the plants. can be made the
surest crop. Your soil must be dry, drain
ed, SO that the water freezing will not lift
the plant. The cold in itself will not hurt
1t, nor will the hot rays of the sun. Plas-
ter will more materially aid it than perhaps
er soil, only get it started, and use plaster,
which is cheap, a hushel to the acre suf-
ficing. And you can as well grow Il close
set of stems rs half or less the number, as
ha L.
you need but a footing, which the ground
will give. 1t will thus be seen that it is
all in the treatment. You are sure to get
light crop, either for hay or seed, from
thin sowings, or 50 putting in that the seed
will not all come, which is so much the
case. And the ground will be benefited
only as the crop is, a few roots affording
little fertility. And if the crop is cut for
hay late. when the heads are turned brown,
there is no profit, but loss. II the crop is
little better and cut at. the right time,
there may be some profit. Raise your
clover as | have stated, and you will i'm.
prove your poor land; it is the best way in
the world to get it up. But you can iaise
AZ VIII IiOiIt oti ITCH SOL. u
deep, rich river bottom will raise seven
tons of clover-hay per acre in Il season in
two cuttings. This | have known in not :,
few cases, and in seasons not the most ia
vorable. Indeed, such soil secures the
crop against the unfavorableness of the
season. On high, dry land, severe
drought would shorten tie stem, say to
fifteen or sixteen inches, but would not
lessen the thick set of the crop. which.
from lis shade, receives protection, and
that at once, early in the season, so that
even if there is a drought. there will be
success. Who will test this thing tina,
has not yet done it | mean thoroughly.
according to direction. The best men
among us recommend it on their own ex-
periene.
AS to the quality of clover as feed,
particularly for nrilch cows there are few
things, # any, equal to it. This is the