Smyrna times., 1891-07-01
Scarlet Clover.
ITS CHARACTER AND ADVANTAGES
DESCRIBED.

relative to it, and which is taken from
the last issue Of the Amcricua Farmer,
will be read with interest by farmers
generally. | have just read, says Mr..
Brown the articles in your June 1st
issue by Messrs. Kerr and Cole, relative
to scarlet clover. and desire to add nv
endorsement to the testimony Of those
gentlemen in what they have said
about this most wonderful as well as
valuable forage plant, either for its
nutritive or commercial value. After
most critical test on the light alluvial
soils of Delaware and Maryland for the
past five years by such experienced
cultivators as J. w. Kerr, Il. S. Cole,
+. II. Bancroft, John J Rosa, Jacob G.
Brown and many other equally ca a.
Bile gentlemen, Scarlet Glover has
proven to be pre-eminently the peer of
all other grasses grown in this section,
and IN my opinion no farmer should
for one moment hesitate to seed everv
available acre of his farm with this
| clover the coming season. From nv
own experience with this clover, I am
free to say that, no matter how appar-
emily exaggerated the statements made
in its favor have been, l believe the
truth has not yet half been told, and
we as farmers, will only fully realize
this when we derive the benefits that
its use will demonstrate.
have never seen any grass grow
so luxuriently on the poorest sandy
knools, where it would be fruitless
effort to endeavor to get stand of any
other grass, or possess so much nutri-
tive value for feeding purposes, either
as green feed, as ensilege, or in its
cured state, nor that would enrich land
so rapidly as this clover when turned
under as a green manure. l truly and
sincerely regard it as the greatest boon
ever fallen to the lot of our farmers. |
have grown it under varied conditions,
have fed it both green and cured, to all
kinds of stock, have plowed it under as
manure and at all times and in every
instance it has so far exceeded my ex-
pectatiOns that it is impossible to keep
from becoming enthusiasticin its praise.
My father, Mr. Jacob G. Brown, of
Kent county, Delaware, has grown it
for the past five years, perhaps more
extensive than any other farmer in
Delaware or Maryland, having this
season had over 300 acres of it8on his
farm, from which after feeding his
large herd of dairy COWS, besides his
other stock for over a month, on Ihn
green grass cut every day, has also
filled his silo, holding 1855 tons, and has
left large acreage for seed, besides
having already turned under many
acres of it and planted the land to
corn
1t will grow as we'll in an orchard as
out of it, on poor soil as well as rich
will grow in the fall and spring when
other crops are out Of the way-should
always be sown in corn fields at the
last working. Some Of the best clover
l had this year was sown last July at
the last working of my watermelon
patch. I have ten acres in wheat in
which intentionally omitted sowing
timothy and red clover, so that it
could be put into buckwheat in August
next and seeded to scarlet clover, from
which expect next spring to cut two
tons of hay to the acre, or if prefer
able, to turn under as a green manure.
DR.. Neal, director of the Delaware Ex-
perimental Station, says that plOwed
under in this way, its commercial
value, is S24 per acre. 1 contend that
we have here an opportunity to stop
the terrible drain on our resources by
the constant and liberal applications
of commercial manures, that our light
soils are constantly requiring, and by
the use of this clover, enrich our land
far more rapidly, surely, permanently
One dollars worth of seed will seed an
acre, and in no way can money be SC
well invested. | certainly hope to see
its use become more general every yeal
as our farmers become more acquainted
with its merits.
Mr.. J. Alexander Fulton of Dover
Delaware, has this say with refer.
ence to it
As friend of agriculture and inter
ested In all that relates TO 1t, and espeo
tally alive to anything new in that line
/ read with great interest your des
cription of Mr. Wilson's "Italiol
Clover" While agree with all tha
you say in its favor, do not agree
that it is much of novelty as is claim
: ed for it in the article referred to. And
that 1t may be tested, herewith en-
close stock and also give q brief des
, criptiOn Of clover here extensively
raised fora number of years, and which
from the general description you give
1 think is identical with Mr.. Wilson,
: ItaliQn clover. / have measured tn,
stock and find it gives the following
dimensions;
Length of stock from ground to tOI
of blossom 26I inches; from root t,
first leaf stem, inches; from first t,
second leaf stem, AZ inches; from sec
ond to third leaf stem inches from
third to fourth leaf stem, 4 inches
from fourth to fifth leaf stem q inches
and fifth leaf stem to blossom, Il
inches. The blossom is q inches il
length and One-half in diameter, oylin
. drical in shape, tapering sOmewha
towards the tip, and In color a brigh
' scarlet when at its best. The colo
gives name to the plant and here
, called scarlet clover. 1t differs from
our common red clover In MANY mar