Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1880-02-21
CLOVER.

Of all the forage plants there Is mons
that can be manipulated in as many
WAYS as this, 10 the advantage OF the
farmer and his land. Including vario.
ties suitable for all kinds OF soil and 10.
caities, there is not Cne essential point
in which il can be improved, unless it
be with longer life, and even then many
of It's essential qualities would be de-
stroyed. One OF these is that OF turn
ing under on poor soil as ferllllzer,'or
when several crops of clover are turned
under successfully, the improvement OF
the land thereby il very susceptible,a and
if it were naturally long-lived, this quail
ity would be destroyed Immediately. La
this connection the clover crop is one
to which the especial attention OF tho
farmer should be called. Few farmers
raise sufficient clover for their own best
interest or for the benefit OF their land.
The prevalent custom OF sowing clover
is that Of mixing with the common gras-
ses Timothy and red top-a plan which
destroys great deal of its value. as tho
clover comes TO maturity much earlier
than the rest, aud is of no value. the
stalks being nothing less than dry sticks.
with but few if any leaves, even the few
being black and worthless.
To get the full value OF the crop il
should be sowh by itself, and grazed
slightly in the spriog, il on rich soil, 10
prevent too strong u growth. 1t this
course is not pursued, cut early, and
theu harvest the second crop, especially
for the seed, as it always commands .
good price. II however, tho land can.
not be spared for clover alone, let il bs
sown with some OF the other grasses.
| when, if a share of its value is lost,
something may be gained, and 10 this
way: The long tap-roots OF clover arc
of great value in running down into the
soil, opening that OF clayey nature to
the action Of air and water. rendering
the soil more frable aud porous, End, at
the same time, less reteDtiye OF water.
Clover roots enter light and sandy
soils for an altogether different purpose;
especially 10 a dry season, entering 10 a
great depth in search Of moisture, bay
ing however, an entirely different me.
cllanical effect, rendering the soil more
retentive Of moisture, at the same time
contributing their share TO the land as =
| fertilizer. On such soil the best effect
of turning under green crops as ma
nure is produced. Clover contains
large amount Of potash, ,phosphoric acid
aud nitrogen, thus contributing just
what the soil most needs. A good way
TO increase the growth, and one which
/ have never known 10 fail, is to give
the leaves q good dusting Of gypsum
on some damp mor6ing, even one sp.
plieation increasing the crop fully one
quarter. Many farmers object 10 SOW.
ing clover alone, Oh account OF the ne
cessIty Of plowing the land again so
soon; but this is very slight objection,
since the soil is so thoroughly benefited
by repeated plowiogs. s5f .fHw
A great amount OF value Of clover
may be lost 10 curing, when done in q
careless manner, either by very bot
sun scorcbing it and thus curing too
quickly, or 10 getting il wet, thus turn
ing black and rendering il almost worth.
less. A very good way, and entirely tho
best,is to cut when free from moisture, and
thoroughly willing, cooking il when foil
Of heat and curing in The cock, thus sav.
ing many Of its valuable qualities Re.
member, however, TO leave IL long
enough TO be thoroughly cured, 50 as TO
avoid its becoming musty in the nov
or stack. BY properly curing clover in
this manner, hay caps can be used TO
great advantage, articles that farmer
cannot afford TO do without
As it has been our object to stale the
good qualities Of clover, do not let us
forget that it is one Of The best crops for
soilipg purposes, branch Of good farm
ing which has been too long overlook
ed, especially on small tarms-L T. En-
som, in IN ~ TaIf, Ffid and Farm.