The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1877-11-30
CLOVER AND Grasses.


We give our experience as we'll as obser.
vation In growing red clover, demonstrating
beyond all controversy that Oh land contain,
ing large per centage ot clay, as well as
stlf bottom lands, not subject to overflow
or, in other words, number one wheat hands
1t Is more remunerativc than the same lands
planted IN any other crop; and to prove
TINS, our farmers are increasing the area
annually sown down in clover; in fact. an
enterprising farmer of our county remark ed
few days ago that he was disguised with
e sIazss paiSh, kat igataaA as On sEea.aass
of seed for his fall sowing.
Our experience is, that clover should be
,sown the first season in October, on land
thoroughly prepared, and if not already
well manured, add, according to fertility
lOO to zoo pounds of fertilizer to the acre
or sufficient to standard that will Weld
fifteen to twenty bushels wheat or corn to
the acre. Ploughing deep and close, SOW
seed at the rate Of ten pounds to the acre.
passing light brush over the ground, or,
If roller is on hand, roll, which c.vcrs the
seed sufficiently deep for gcrmination.-
Avoid covering too deep. In the SPRING
say in March-add 100 pounds of ground
plaster to the acre while the plant is damp.
If it is seasonable, Il fair crop may be cut
in June. When moved, add 100 pounds
plaster to tho acre, and SO ON altar -Aaah
cutting, and in the spring following. Fail.
ing to get stand, NOW in the fall. Pre-
pare the same land and SOW in February, us.
ing ne-quartcr bushels oats or rye to the
acre; plough under the grain and brush or roll
under the seed us above.
Clover may be sown with small grain
and full crop of the latter made, thus
making small grain pay the expenses of the
crop; but when clover is the main object
aud to DC cut tho first year, no grain should
be sown with it.
When not over one. fourth of the bloom
turns brown, the crop should be moved,
and if mower is used, all moved during
the day should be put in cocks. Two hours
exposure the day following will ordinarily
be sufficiently long to cure the hay. In
sSass p t9s, appearance Of, rain, put in good
chFs tht httna aaufe uffe@aaih u Hay partially
,very two days in the barn, until beyond
danger Of mould, is decidedly preferable to
curing altogether in the SUM- If cut with
grass scythes, the same process in curing is
necessary, only requiring longer time,
sbwiug to the heavy swaths and the couse.
'qucnt frequent turning. Land that will
yield fifteen bushels wheat to the acre will
furnish two tons good clover hay first cut
ting and as the fertility of the soil is ill.,
creased, the yield will be increased, even to
five tons.
An in"xhaustiblc supply of hay can be
made by cleaning up waste bottom lands
too wet for cultivation, moving in May and
September until the ANIMALS arc DESTROYED.
giving place to perennial grasses.
Any grass or weeds that stock will cat
when green, will make forage if cut in the
bloom and properly cured-cvcn the rag
weed, so thoroughly experimental with, and
so admirably utilized by the Hon. j. w.
Watts, Of Laurcns county.
Yellow clover, now cultivated to limited
extent in this State, sown in September, is
ready for pasturagc as early as the middle
of January, the first year; afterwards in
December; ripens and dies about the 1st of
May; the land planted in corn or other
crop, and in the fall it springs up again.
Lands thus used arc rapidly improved.