The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-06-26
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WHEAT AFTER GLOVER.

II Is generally considered that crop OF
clover turned under is not only beneficial
to the land, but one Of the best prepara-
tions for wheat also. But the latter, in
our opinion, win depend pretty much upon
the time when and the condition in which
the clover is turned under. There can be
no doubtthat, as a manurial plant, red clover
stands pre-eminent, and is Of inestimable
value TO the farmer, containing, as it does,
large proportion of lime, magnesia, car
bonic acid, potash, with considerable guam
titles of phosphorie acid and snlphurie acid,
NITROGEN, &C., all beneficial to vegetation,
and hence its value as a manure As a
plant it has numerous strong stems, branch
ing upwards and sideways from single
root, with broad, succulent and shady
leaves, and provided with long and strong
tap-roots, And when we consider that
the plant is hardy, tillers well, eifectually
shades the ground, extends its tap-root
deep in the soil, absorbs most OF its fertil-
izing principles from the atmosphere, and
grows well on almost every variety of dry
soil, its great celebrity as a manurial plant,
particularly in the Northern and Middle
States, is not to be wondered at. Its
stems, leaves and roots, when plowcd under
as manure, not only render the soil por-
Gus, mellow and permeable to heat, air and
moisture, but in and by their decay draw
fertilizing mineral elements from the sub
soil TO enrich and ct the surface for other
valuable crops. The roots of clover, to-
gether with the ordinary supply of barn.
yard manure, will furnish all the vegetable
matter needed in the soil, while 10 feeding
its stems and leaves, whether in their green
state or when made into hay, nearly all the
mineral matter is passed and saved in the
manure, so that whore clover is fed on
the farm and the sod plowed down, the
full benefit of the clover crop is secured
both for feeding and mauurial purposes.
Indeed there ia no plant that combines SO
much Of value to the farmer, whether as
food for stock or as a renoyator of the soil.
II is one Of the best fertilizers of poor,
wornout soil that exists, and when manures
are not to be had in sufficient quantities
to keep up the good condition Of a farm,
the red clover comes in to supply their place
with great advantage.
Wheat, especially when grown on clover
lays, is generally better, both in quantity
and quality, as well as more free from dis
ease, than when stimulated with animal
manures. But these are not the only adj
vantages Of red clover Il requires but
little labor to sow it, aud, when sown, de-
mands no care and will produce two
years growth, at least, from a single SOW
ing, aud, If not too closely cropped or past
ured, will maintain itself and supply both
hay aud pasturage for some time longer
But, as said before, lis beneficial effect
upon succeeding crop of wheat will de-
pend upon the time when and the eondi-
ton in which it is when turned under.
In our opinion, the PROPERTIES Of clover
as manure for plants may be likened to
the properties Of fruit as food for man.
To plow under crop of clover after it has
become fully matured, and its dry leaves
and stem cover the land, Is unquestionabIy
beneficial to the succeeding crop as well as
70 We laUu.
But the effect Of blowing down heavy
crop Of clover when in full bloom is, ac-
cording to our experience, highly pernic-
ious, and we can readily account for it in
this way that the mucilaginous and sac
charine matter with which the plant at
that stage Of its growth abounds, and
which, when turued under and subjected
to the united influence Of heat and mois-
ure, takes the acetous fermentation, and,
ike vinegar, is detrimental to healthy veg
citation, as much 50 as unripe fruit is to
the human system. To be sure, these
consequences may be in part attributable
to other circumstances, such as the state
Of the ground, temperature, rain, drought,
&C., and may not always flow from the i'm
maturity Of the crop pIowed under. But,
be that as il may, certainly nothing can
be gained BY blowing under green clover,
when il is we'll known that this plant loses
none Of its fertilizing properties by becom-
ing ripe and dry. And hence we find that
heavy mat Of dead clover, which has lain
upon the ground and been trodden down
BY cattle, Is almost equal to good coat Of
barnyard manure.
We are decidedly Of the opinion, there
fore, that il is far safer either to break up
q clover-lay in time to allow the aeetous
lamentations to pass of before putting it
10 wheat, or to allow the clover to become
completely mature aud dry before turning
Il under, than il is 70 bury it in the ground
in It's green state, or when in a condition
70 undergo the acetous fermentation, and
thus impart is pernieious influence 70 the
succeeding crop Of wheat - The Farm