The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-07-21
TINE TO SOW.

Red clover Is generally sown with some
kind of small grain, and this Is undoubtedly
the most economical plan, unless the grain is
very rank and thick on The ground; when IL
Will most surely smother and kill 1t. In fact,
when clover is sown on this plan the grain
should not be seeded too thicllly not more
than one half the usual quantity. If the cost
Of the seed is not grievance the best time TO
SOW, Is in September or early in October. i'm.
mediatcly on ground after putting In small
grain, as this gives two strings to your bow,
for If winter killed, you can reason nt the
next best, and by many held to be the best,
time for sowing, mean the first ten days OF
March. II you sow in March run Thomas
harrow over the grain, when not too wet sow
the seed and leaYc IL TO be covered by the
rains.
II the cost of seed is to be considered, and
the best time for single sowing is wanted, l
would unheSitatingly recommend the first
week in March rs the safest and surest to get
q stand,
Some may ask why not sow the seed in
March on grain without narrowing, l answer
that 1 have tried this plan, and found 1t
would not work well. The crust on the
ground prevents the seed being covered, and
the rain washed and collects them in the de-
pressionS and sink places, such as horse
tracts &C., giving these spots too much seed at
the expense Of the more elevated ones.
THE BEST GRAIN TO sow WITH 1T.
With what grain should we sow clover to
give it the best chance for SaccesS? Any
kind except oats l have failed twice in get
ting clover to live in oats. think wheat the
best and barley next Tor this purpose. l can
not speak from experience on rye but believe
it would fill the biiI cxccllcntly, were il not
that this grain is generally sown on the thin
est land, such as would not grow clover with
any satisfaction to the farmer. or course,
YOU will understand that after removing the
crop Of small grain, the clover must have
posscssson of the land, without grazing, the
remainder of that year and the one following,
taking your first cutting OF hay In the spring
of second year, though on rich spots IL may
be cut in the first year.
TINE FOR CUTTING AND MANNER OF CUR
ING CLOVER HAY.
The proper time to cut for hay Is when you
find about half the heads OF bloom fresh and
half wthered or ripenning. This will occur
generally in May.
once, some years ago, I cut my clover in
SR. Nay. HIS 'e'''0'' ""' '''' N''n u -''D 0'
When come to speak Of curing the hay, I
speak with much misgiving as TO my ability to
instruct. If the weather is open and pretty al
most any plan will do: If showery and
cloudy you will scarcely be pleased with any.
My plan, until this season, has been to start
the mower as soon in the morning rs the clo-
yer is free from dew for IL must not Dc cut
wet. Commonly 1t ls9 or ~ o'clock In the
day. The present season l tried the plan Of
moving late in the evening, and was much
pleaScu WITH III. lne ueW VIII not lnJufc the
color or quality OF fresh cut clover or grass
like II after il Is partly cured. Another adj
vantage OF cutting in the evening is that 1t
throws all the hinderancc from other work
together and at the same time,-about one or
hours before sunset. Thus this avocatlon of
preserving grass will not seriously interfere
with our common vocation Of killing grass in
the cotton field.
Glover should be put into ricks after one
days sun, and remain SO from To days,
then housed but IL can he taken in much
sooner if rain threatens TO fall, especially If
you have much barn room. y mower ought
TO take down aS much in two hours as you
can handle III the same length of time the
next evening to rake and cock up, with
hor>c-rake and J or hands with forks. The
land ] have in clover is red clay land. | have
frequently applied ground plaster or gypsum
to the young clover: but the benefit was not
very apparent, yet the evidence prcpondcr-
atrS in favor of its use. On gray land | GER
tanly should use it freely when the young
clover WAS about six inches high, sowing l0
to .u1 pounds carly in tho morning when
there was Il heavy dew. Though clover hay
c;,n not be cured so us To show so bright ana
pretty hs hay from true grasses yet 1t is really
more nulriclouS.
As y HESruEER OF LAND.
Glover far SnrpasScs any rcstorcr Of worn
How, TN rf,,,t nf