The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-05-19
CLOVER AND THE GRASSES.
Marked Improvement Among our Far
mers---One Of the Effects of the Stock

mers---One of the Effects of the Stock
Law.
DESTROYS of acquainting itself thor
oughly with the true condition OF
our farming population, The Pro
GREssIvE FARMER interviewed num-
Der of our leading dealers in field
seeds and farm machinery.
"How does the demand for field
seeds this season compare with for
mer seasons?' we inquired, as we
stepped into the office of Messrs.
Hinshaw & Bynum. at is largely
in excess Of any former season, espe-
cially for clover seed" ITO what do
you ascribe it?' "Chiefy to the
stock law, which necessitates plenty
Of hay and good pasturage. We are
gratifed to see this most important
matter engaging the attention of our
people, as it will prevent lands from
washing and by a proper system of
rotation will soon make them fertile
and keep them SO"
Mr.. Hodgin, of the firm Of Hodgin
& Sullivan, said: "'The sale Of clover
and orchard grass seed was largely
in excess of the transactions of any
former season. He, too, thought it
largely due to the existence Of the
stock law, but independent Of that,
the farmers were beginning to learn
to appreciate the value of the grasses
and clover as a renovator and ~fertilz
izer." In reply to a question, he
thought orchard grass the best FIR
our climate and soils. But for graz
ing he had found nothing to d9bet-
ter than blue grass, on strongland.
1t is hardy, ~resists drought, and
stands the cropping of stock well.
"Will this enlarged seeding to the
grasses affect the acreage Of other
crops" we asked. eyes, he re-
piled, sit will reduce somewhat the
acreage hitherto devoted to corn.
They will put the rolling lands in
grass, and take the bottoms and
meadows for corn"
Mr.. J. E. Gilmer had been selling
grass seeds for the past ten years,
and the demand had increased in a
marked degree for the last two years,
especially for clover. He thought
if our farmers knew the value Of
clover and the grasses for improving
their lands, they would adopt this
system as a substitute for CONNER
cial fertilizers to a large degree. He
hoped our farmers would devote
more attention to this matter. 1t
would be better for the farmer in all
respects, and whatever improves his
condition benefits all other classes.
Mr.. Clinard, with the firm of F. &
H. Fries, ofSalem, said: ''The culture
of grasses has been steadily increas-
ing with our people for ten years,
but the call for seed this season has
been unprecedented in our expert
ence. We have sold one-third more
this season than ever before. The
largest increase was timothy, but
orchard is the best for our soils.
Orchard grass and clover, mixed, do
finely for two years, but the third year
the orchard takes the field. Our
people r beginning to value grass,
not only as a fertilizer, but for the
money it brings. We all know it is
the best fertilizer for lands, and
We hope to see our farmers going
into its cultivation more largely than
ever"
W. T. Carter & Co. agree entirely
with the statements as given above,
and added: "Our house has sold
more seed than ever before, and we
want to see more clover and more
grass. Our people can have better
stock, can make more manure, can
improve their lands, and more and
larger grass fields would aid greatly
in inducing emigration to our sec
ton. We are glad to note this in
terest among our farmers, for we re-
gard it as one Of the very best evil
dences ola coming prosperity. When
we see a man with large clover and
grass fields, we know he is not fnan-
cially embarrassed, but is thriving
and doing WELL"
Mr.. Stockton, of Pfohl & Stockton.
thought they had sold more. They
sold clover, orchard and timothy
grass, and millet. The demand for
clover and orchard grass had GER
tainly increased. "We want to see
u farmers go more largely into
this work. 1t is their only saliva
ton. We want to see them make their
farms selfsustaining. I happen to
think of a man, Mr.. Noah Kim