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

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 fertilizing
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 thsse effects are greater in
proportion to the bulk of the vegesa'
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 a growth of clover
will amount to an equal bulk of four
tons more. Sixteen thousandpounds.
or eight tons of green matter, is
equivalent to 100 pounds upon every
square rod of ground. When this, is
evenly distributed, as it ia BY plow-
Ing a growing crop under, in alter
nate layers of vegetable matter, and
four, FIVE or six inches of soil, as the
burrows may be made, thssoil is great
approved in texture; q ligh;, san,
dyS1S-.- ,,-..- S6gsth5f and con.
solidated by this 6brous matter inter,
mingled with it, and heavy clay is
loasened, opened, and made more
porous. Either soil is far better pre-.
pared for its occupation by q mass of
roots, and is better enabled to 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
fertilizing matter. The eight tons Of
clover leaves stsms and roots contain
about l12 pounds Of nitrogen, twenty
six pounds of phosphoric acid, fifteen
pounds ofsulphuric acid, sixty pounds
of carbonic acid, one hundred pounds
of earbonic 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. Thereforet the eight tons
of clover add to the soil as much nj
trogen as twelve and one.half tons OF
manure. There is considerable
balance in favor Of the clover, the
greater, as nitrogen is the most valua
bic and costly of all the needed ele
ments of fertility. But there IS a
deeper view to be taken Of this con-
siderable addition made to the fertili'
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 thick
fusiform tap.root. which psnetrates
to great depth, and then sends ont
q multitude of feeders, which gather
nutriment from 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 OF used by q 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
draws up and transpires SO large
quantity of water, yet the mineral
matter held in solution and upon
which the, plant feeds is by no means
proportionately large. 1t is, there
fore, able to exist and grow in poorer
soil than any other crop, and to sub
sist on much weaker food. 1t is as
though an animal could live and
. "a q ,,~on roslb H7lntQH