The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1872-01-24
Clover and Rotation Of Crops.

! "the good oldtimes" whom +" was a
farmer--and, Imay add, u successful
one = in Western North Carolina.
l adopted there a rotation which
succeeded admirable. commenced
with corn, plowed deep, spread all tho
manure Icould gather on tho surface,
narrowed thoroughly and opcued my
drill with narrow long bull.ton
que plo~, running deep. The ptow
being narrow, aud land in good ordeN
the aeed when planted was not moro
than two inches below the surface,
but quite deep enough. 1 cultivated
level, fret Running deeply and very
close to the corn with small subsoil,
followed soon after with cultivator.
Second plowiug, subsoil again, deep
but little off, (say six or eight 10
ches from the corn). I then used the
cultiyitor as often as practicable un
til tile corn was between three or four
feet high when Iputthe subs9i as.
doep as possible into the ceitre be.
tween the corn rows. I followed up
with the cultivator and passed the
hoe through choppiug out any weeds
or grass and leaving everything level
aud in splendid order. This was
towards the middle OF end of July, in
that climstes .s... b. ..a.' !,
!asThe laying by of the corn was i'm
mediately followed by the sowing Of
the grass seed-clover, timothy, red
top or any othcr-scattcred evenly
along the corn. rows. If We had a
rain within day or two after sowing
the seeds, the work was accomplished.
If no rain, then light brush Was
dragged through each row by u, mule
or hotse, with small boy to tide and
guide. A good walking around would
brush in ten or twelve uores per day. I
never fniled to got good stand ofgrass.
planting as described above. You must
know, Mr.. Editor, that at the In, in.
by of tho corn crop the soil is in the
very best condition, if the oorn has
received proper attention. aud work
doue as should bo, grass seed put ia
soil that has been we'll worked up for
several. mouths, will soon make its ap-
poaranoe and grow 6uely, if not killed
out by she hot sun. Now the corn
offers all the protection from the sun
that is needed for the grass when it
is young. by the time the blades are
fit for fodder, the grass is strong
enough to take care of itself.
After the corn was g.thorod, (at
any time before ApriD l cut the corn
stalks close to the surface with a
mover or a sharp hoe. If the grass is
to be converted into hay the first sea-
son, the stalks ust be hauled off
but if to be grszed, tho stalks after
choppiDg may remain. After the
corn stalks have been removed, and
after rain, when the soil is sufficient.
ly soft to admit the pressing in of the
corn stumps, the meadow must be roll.
ed. This may be done late in spring
when the grass is up several inches
high. The rolling will allow the
mower to shave very close.
By sowing clover on grass seed as
above, full Drop of hay may be So
cnred the following summer-ten or
twelve months after seeding. To put
in grass seed With small grain, the
youns grass will be smothered out if
your oats or wheat is of thick and
luxeriant growth. The corn protects
from the sun, but does not in the
least smother the young grass.
Now for my rotation. havo Sc
cured good stand of clover after my
corn. The clover is cut or gruzed
off in early summer second crop is
allowed to for seed. When the
most advanced burs (say about one
third) turn brown, then put in the
plow and turn everything under deep
ly. In full or spring, plant wheat or
oats. After your small grain is ta~
keu off you will have quite sprink
ling of cover to turn under in the
early fall. Plant corn again in
spring, and give yourself no farther
concern about your stand of clover.
Work your corn we'll and lay it by
in nice condition your clover will
appear 10 due time. With the
above rotation, my farm improved
yearly (beyond my most sanguine ex
peotation).
'" If the farmer will give to the soil
the second crop of clover (,he second
crop Of the season,) he will never have
to re.seed his fold. But if he persists
In grazing off everything and return
nothing, his rotation will end in disap.
pointment, and the old cry of "the
clover has.run out.' IS .wE
r Glover seed should not be planted
more than fourth of An inoh deem.
If buried deep it will remain in the
soil, however, for years without vege-
tation until brought near tho surface
under tho influence Of atm mosphere. I
have seen an old pasture, which has
been closely grazed for many years
In succession, plowed in winter, and a
good stand Of red clover appeared in
the spring. p. W. j., Rural Caro-
Inidn. n" ,al.na