Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1885-08-20
The Value Of Clover.

Beyond the river.
The Value Of Glover.
To the question of what is gained
by plowing in clover sod? Henry
Stewart replies as follows in the New
York Times:
There are, he says, three advan-
tages-6rst, the mechanical effects
upon the soil; second, the addition
of certain quantity Of fartilizing
matter and third, the chemical ef.
fects upon the soil.
Just now it is very important to
consider each Of these very closely,
because there is popular opinion
prevalent that the soil is actually i'm.
proved by cutting and removing this
second growth instead Of plowing it
under. This belief has been taught
by agricultural chemists and ty wri.
ters upon agriculture, and it has been
widely adopted on the strength of
the authority. But there are really
NO facts given to support the preva-
lent belief in the effects Of clover
upon the soil, while common sense
and reason are opposed to it. This
will appear as the three points above
mentioned are made clear.
First. There are some certain me-
chanical effects produced upon the
soil by the plowing.in of a clover
sod, and these effects are greater IN
proportion to the bulk of the vegeta-
BILE matter turned under. A quantity
of green clover which would make a
ton Of hay is equal to four tons OF
the green matter. The roots and
stubble of such growth of clover
will amount to an equal bulk Of four
tons more. Sixteen thousand pounds.
or eight tons of green matter is
equivalent to 100 pounds upon every
square rod of ground. When this. is
evenly distributed, as it is BY plow
ing growing crop under, in alter
nate layers of vegetable matter, and
four, FIVE or six inches of soil, as the
flrravs may be made. the soil is great
improved in texture; afligh;, san
d31is--.~-.,-....a 1gsth5f and con-
solidated by this ibrous matter inter
mingled with it. and heavy clay is
lossened, opened, and made more
porous. Either soil is far better pre-
pared for its occupation by mass Of
roots, and is better enabled . hold
the moisture requisite for the growth
of a crop.
Second. A quantity Of clover like
that plowed in contributes to the soil
large amount of the most valuable
fsrtilizing matter. The eight tons OF
clover leaves, stems and roots contain
about ll2 pounds Of nitrogen, twenty
six pounds of phosphoric acid, fifteen
pounds ofsnlphuric acid. sixty pounds
Of carbonic acid, one hundred pounds
Of esrbonic acid, one hundred pounds
Of lime. sixty.seven pounds Of pot
ash, and about sixty pounds of soda,
msgnesia, chlorine, iron, etc. A ton
of ordinary farm.manure contains
nine pounds Of nitrogen, ten pounds
of potash, and four pounds of phos-
phoric acid. Therefore the eight tons
of clover add to the soil as much nj
trogen as twelve and one.half tons OF
manure. There is a considerable
balance in favor Of the clover, the
greater, as nitrogen is the most valua-
bic and costly Of all the needed Gle
ments of fertility. But there is
deeper view to be taken OF this con-
siderable addition made to the fsrtili-
ty of the soil by the clover, and that
is, it had been procured from sources
where no other crop could procure it,
and that is from a great depth, com
paratively, in the sub-soil. Clover Is
a deep-rooted plant. 1t has a thiek'
fusiform tap-root, which penetrates
to a great depth, and then sends ont
q multitude of feeders, which gather
nutriment from a much larger space
and depth of soil than any other
plant. Furthermore, it has the habit
of passing through its roots and
leaves an enormous quantity Of wa.
ter, equal to 1854 pounds per day
for an acre, or in 100 days about ITO
tons. This is seven times as much as
is required or used by wheat crop,
whose roots occupy much less space
and remain near the surface.
There is still another point to be
noticed and which we must not omit.
This is that while the clover plant
lraws up and transpires so large
quantity of water, yet the mineral
natter held in solution and upon
which the plant feeds is by no means
,roportionately large. 1t is. there.
ore, able to exist and grow in poorer
oil than any other crop. and to sub
ist on much weaker food. 1t is as
houeh an animal could live and