The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-03-07
Clover a Paving Crop.
From Moore,s Rural New Yorker. !

Southern farmers, as well as North
ern, are learning that clover lies at the
basis of all good farming. 1t has been
believed by some that clover would not
succeed in the South. This we think
mistake. There is one danger to North
ern clover fields from which Southern
farmers are exempt, i. e., that Of winter
killing, and this probably offsets, in most
cases, the danger from severe hot and
dry weather in summer. Glover has
deep root, and if that once strikes down
it is not easily destroyed by drought,
where the soil Is rich enough to encour-
age vigorous growth aud retain mois-
ture. A correspondent of the Rural Sun
gives the following experience with
clover on field Of twenty acres of
scarcely average land, which would not
produce ten bushels of wheat per acre:
In 1871 l sowed this twenty acres with
the surface sufficiently smooth for now
ing. The wheat was sown after the
ground had been well plowed with a
large two-horse plow, and narrowed
twice with an iron harrow, leaving the
ground in excellent order.
In March, 1872, sowed' upon light
snow gallon OF clover seeu per acre.
In April OF the same year l applied one
thousand pounds of land plaster. The
seeds and plaster cost S22 30, or little
over 81 per acre. The crop of wheat
yielded little less than ten bushels per
acre. After the wheat had been taken
| off, the clover afforded a fine pasture for
many months. In 1878 the field was
| moved, and produced, as near as could
estimate, forty tons Of hay. L sold
twenty five tons at Sl2 per ton, the pur-
| chaser doing the labor of loading.
| The second crop of the same year pro-
duced several bushels of seed, besides a
| splendid pasturage for the remainder OF
| the year. In 1874 the field was pastured
heavily, and the summer being hot and
| dry l thought the clover was killed out.
In October Of that year the field was
| closely plowed, sowed with wheat and
| the land well narrowed. Every one
Knows that money was very scarce Ill
the spring of 1875, and thinking my clo-
/ yer killed out was very much troubled
| about getting clover seed. Upon eXami-
nation / found the clover coming up
i quite thick enough tor a good stand. l
applied land plaster the same as before,
| about one thousand pounds to the twen-
| ty acres.
twenty bushels to the acre all over the
Field. Four acres were measured OH and
the yield accurately measured, produc-
ing one hundred bushels. The same
four acres were in cotton In 1870, and the
wheat sown in 1871 yielded scant ten
bushels; showing an increase of fifteen
/ bushels per acre in favor Of clover culti-
yation. After the wheat was taken off
in 1875, cut from the same field ton
of clover hay per acre, and all who see it
say it is excellent hay. After the hay
crop was taken of IL afforded a good
pasture until Christmas, and now shows
an excellent stand.
My outlay for. seed and plaster has
been less than $40, and If nothing un-
common occurs in the season do not
expect to sow any cl0ver-seed on that
lfeld for o number OF years, and expect
the land to become ricner every year.
want to make a few figures to show
what that field has produced since l pre-
pared it for clover: 0
Wheat crop in 1872, 200 bushels, at 81 81
Forty tons Of clover hay in 1878, at sis per :.
! Clover seedi 1873 73...................... y
Pasturage in 1873 3..........,.........-.... Z:
/ Pasturage in nl67A....,........ ..,.......... TX
Wheat, 40 bushels in 1875, at 81 per bus. 40l
Ten tons OF hay in 1876. l0t
Pasturage In lS75..... o.
/ Total ............'.....'."'... Si''es
-