The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-08-31
The Manurial Value of Red Glover.

If a ton of green clover is worth five
times as much for fertilizing purposes as
ton of common yard manure made by
animals fed on straw or timothy hay, and
with straw litter largely interhixed, then
a good crop of clover might be rated in
value about as follows: Two tons of stalks
and leaves, estimated when converted to
dry hay, would be equal to at least four
tons of the green material, and half this
amount in roots would be two tons more );
the whole six tons multiplied by five, to
bring it to the standard of common ma
nure, would show a heavy crop of clover
to be worth thirty tons of ordinary yard
manure This estimate may not be
strictly correct, and it cannot always be,
as yard manure varies much in its value,
according to age, amount of straw or corn
stalks used, and mode Of heaping or pre-
serving. But let the estimate be varied so
as to meet the differing circumstances, and
it will still be seen that clover possesses
eminent advantages.
The influence which the roots possess in
loosening and rendering mellow the heavy
soils in which they grow is one of great
importance-assisting as they do the
diffusion of the manure of the leaves and
stems through the soil in the process Of
decay. Those who have been in the prac-
tice Of working heavy or clayey land, can
appreciate the great difference between
the condition of an inverted sod turned
over like brick clay, when nothing but
timothy or grass has grown upon it and
another sod thoroughly loosened and pull
verified by the roots Of clover. which have
every where penetrated through it. The
one is like clammy, unleavened bread.
The other like the spongy texture of a
we'll raised loaf It is in this way that
clover may exert beneficial influence,
either in the ordinary processes of cult
walton, or in favoring the intermixture of
common manure through the soil, nearly
as great as its enriching value.
Estimating the value of good clover
crop as equal to thirty loads OF yard ma
nure, cultivators may easily figure which
will be most economical in application,
including the drawing and spreading. On
from stables, the balance will he found to
be much in favor of the green crop.
Every thrifty farmer manufactures and
saves all the yard manure which he can;
but in common mixed husbandry it is in
sufficient of itself to keep up high
state of fertility in all the fields. A rota-
ton, comprising the frequent turning
under of a growing crop, becomes abso-
lutcly essential to a successful and profit
able husbandry. Such a rotation will
usually he found most advantageous if
the crop is plowed under at two years OF
age. The plants will then have attained
full size. 1t may be cut for nay the first
year, and, if cured without becoming wet,
will not only make an, excellent nutritiye
feed for cattle and sheep, but the manure
resulting from, this feeding will be of
high value. Since the Introduction of
moving machines, hay tedders, horse
rakes and horse forks, there is little ne
cessity of allowing crop of clover to be-
come blackened and spoiled by rain. The
practice of top-dressing wheat fields with
fine manure applied in autumn when the
grain is sown is not only highly advanta-
geous to the wheat, but insures the ger
mination, and vigorous growth of the
clover.-N p Herald. ss1-oas- i ,'n4,