The Democratic advocate., 1883-07-21
Clover as a Renovator.

In this country clover is a standard crop.
1t not only makes the best and most nutri-
tious hay, but can be produced without
cost. There is no doubt an outlay to be
incurred when seeding to clover; but when
it is considered that clover acts as reno
vator and actually enriches the soil, it con-
fers benefit greater than the expenses
attending the growth of the crop. When
cut for hay it leaves in the soil a mass Of
roots equaling in weight the hay produced,
and the shade it affords is of itself very
beneficial.
The common practice is too seed down
clover very early in spring over the wheat.
The consequence is that the seed is eaten
by birds, injured by excess of water, and
destroyed in great many ways. A good
'catch" is not always obtained, owing to
these causes, and as the seed is usually
limited to a certain quantity, everything
depends on the season. One thing should
be impressed on farmers regarding clover,
which is to seed literally. Too much seed
is better than too little, and at the times of
seeding smoothing harrow passed over
the field, if the condition of the ground
permit, will benefit both the clover and
wheat
How crop of corn can be benefited
when planted on clover sod is matter
often discussed. Clover, though abounding
in nitrogen, thrives on soils that are def
cient in that element; and corn, which
appropriates large quantities of nitrogen,
thrives well after clover, although the
clover carries off when removed large
quantities of nitrogen. This may be ex-
planned by the hypothesis that clover has
the power of converting the free nitrogen
of the atmosphere into available food,
and this supposition is borne out by the
fact that from no other source could such
large quantities of nitrogen be obtained.
A soil deficient in nitrogen will produce
clover if it is supplied with potash and
lime IF the soil is deficient the amount
carried into it in the shape Of ammonia and
nitric acid is too small to account for the
large quantity of nitrogen which assists to
make up three tons of hay to the acre with
the corresponding amount Of roots. And
the soil on which clover grows increases IN
fertility, for the nitrogen had previously
existed in some insoluble form. 1t is plain
that the time would come when the supply,
even in that shape, must cease to exist,
and yet we find that nitrogen increases in
soils on which clover is grown instead of
diminishing Chemists are bold in claim
ing that no plant absorbs free nitrogen; !;
but until they can make known the source
from which clover derives its great quanti-
ty of nitrogen they must admit that there
is to be discovered something as yet unde-
veloped regarding nitrogen and its relation
to plant growth.
1t is unnecessary to advise the growing
of clover for hay, for its value is well
known, but it is for farmers to pay more
attention to this crop as renovator OF the
soil. No farmer incurs the risk of failure
who makes clover a speciality in system
of rotation, but the trouble is that they do
not give every portion of the farm a seed
ing of it, as they should do, instead Of con-
fning it to chosen locations. On sandy
soils the seeding is best done in the fall
just when the danger of drought is over, as
the prospects Of stand will be better, but
on wheat land there is a saving Of time
from spring seeding.