Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1891-12-31
TIE FARM AND STABLE.
USEFUL INFORMATION PERI
4 TANNING TO THE FARM. +
Growing Clover-- Breeding Poult
IA Job for Gold Woather--InJuryy
to StIfle JoInt--The Bee
Moth.
Growing Glover.

There is no question among farmers
who have tried it as to the value Of
clover on the farm, but their is a con-
siderable difference in the manner of
seeding and managing. There is no
question but that difference in soil
and location have much to do with
this difference, as what is best in one
locality will not always be best IN an
other.
Some SOW on winter wheat, sowing
the seed in February, the exact date
being largely determined by the sea-
son. Whenever it can be done it is
best to SOW reasonably early. Others
claim that the best results are obtain
ed by sowing with oats. Take the first
opportunity in the spring for doing
the work, as earliness is quite an item
with both clover and oats. Others
SOW the clover alone about the time
of the last snow, say about the last
week in February. These claim that
when the clover is sown with small
grain after the crop is harvested the
plants, being 80 suddenly exposed to
the hot sun after being sheltered all
through their growth previously, are
killed out.
Some plough under early in the fall
where a good stage of growth has been
secured, claiming that there rs large
amount OF valuable plant food in the
clover which, if ploughed under when
green, will be returned to the soil.
Others either let the clover die down
in the fall or cut it down with now
err and let it lie until spring, when it is
ploughed under. Those following this
plan claim that keeping the soil shad-
ed aids in storing fertility, and hence
the advantage in letting the clover lie
on the ground until spring, and then
plough under and either plant to corn
or potatoes, and then SOW to wheat
again in the fall, making three years
rotation; or by having oatsfollow the
corn CT potatoes and then wheat and
back again to clover, making a four
years rotation. Others plough under
the second growth in the fall and SOW
to wheat. ..
In a locality where the oats can be
sown early, usually not later than the
last week in February, sowing clover
with the oats will nearly always give
good results, but when the seeding
must be delayed until March, be-
cause the soil cannot be suit
ably prepared before, it will
be best to SOW alone or on the
winter wheat in order to get the work
done early. But the manner OF SOW
ing is not so important, provided it is
done in way that will secure a good
growth, as it is to be sure and SOW
more or less every year. Clover aids
to build up the fertility by mulching
the soil. Shading the soil aids in the
process of storing nitrogen, and a
good growth OF clover will shade the
soil completely. The roots extend
deep into the subsoil and bring up
more or less fertility to the surface,
and in this way the surface soil is en-
riched. Clover is a gross feeder and
derives some of it's sustenance from
the air, and in this way adds to the
fertility. The first crop may be cut
for hay, be fed out to stock and the
manure be hauled out and applied to
the soil, and the second crop be
ploughed under to add to the fertility.
It is not best to depend upon clover
alone to keep up the fertility, but it is
a very important item, and on the
majority of farms, especially in the
West, there is not SO much sown as
there should be.