The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1892-06-07
Glover and Its Culture.

Glover and Its Culture.
Articles on clover and it's qualities are not
universally interesting to the southern
farmers, for the reason that clover Is not
a universal growth with our planters, and
when I speak of ''clover," it is usually the
red variety that is referred to. There are
a number of varieties of this plant species,
but the one in general culture, and the
one of most value every way, is the RED
blossom clover. The white clover grows
quite freely III most of countries, but IL
has little or no value outside of pasturage.
The red clover is one of the most i'm
portant plants known to agriculture. While
it possesses u very high value as forage,
or hay plant, it makes magnificent pastur-
age for all classes of live stock kept on the
farm. 1t is one of the grasses that swine
thrive and fatten on. The plant Is, more
over, one of the standard products OF the
farm used in the renovation and fertllza-
ton of worn lands. 1t has few or no SUI
periors as a natural and economic collector
of nitrogen in the soil. 1t will gather and
FIX that plant food In some soils more
readily and more surely and copiously than
any other living herb.
The red clover, however, is a jealous
plant; it is particular as to the bosom from
/
grow satisfactorily in all kinds of soil, as
do some of our other farm products; and
hence it's successful growth is limited to soil
that has an abundance OF clay ana lime
and loan near the surface.
And hence it is that the southern far
mers universally are unable to raise this
valuable plant. Our soils, as a rule, have
too much silica, or sand, to enable the plant
to get a good foothold, or roofing deeply,
before the hot suns of the summer come
upon it, 1t is the sand OF the effects of the
sand in our lands that prevents clover from
being a success in most OF our southern
soils.
In the lime and clay soils of Virginia
and Tennessee, and of western North Car
DINA and in upper South Carolina, Geor-
gia, Alabama and Mississippi, clover can
be grown in greatest ease and with abund-
ant success in every way. In the regions
named, there is no excuse for the want of a
proper fertilizer for their worn soils, nor for
an abundance of homegrown hay on every
farm.
But one of the troubles and difficulties
experienced by the farmers in those re-
gions specified, in reaching success in the
culture of clover, Is the proper Tor improp-
err manner many of the farmers pursue
in growing and managing the plant. Clover
is not only chary somewhat in the matter
of soil; but in order for it to develop its
growth best, the soil must not only be of
the right kind, but it must be properly pre-
pared Fields intended for clover should
be prepared the year previous to the sow
ing time. The ground should have Il good
fertiliZa ton, and then SOW first in corn, cot
ton or potatoes-in something that requires
hoe culture-this to rid the land as effect
lively as possible of weeds and filth gener
ally. If the ground is run in corn and the
plant of this grain has been early enough
to permit an early harvesting Of it in the
fall, it is advisable to cut up the crop and
remove it from the field, break the land
again well and then SOW dow In wheat
or rye and clover at the same time. If the
fall season is favorable the young clover will
come up and make q growth sufficient to
enable it to live and thrive through the
winter, the sheltering given to 1t by the
wheat plants above being of great protec-
ton to the young clover.
But where the winters are severe and
the ground is liable to freeze, thaw and
"spew up" the roots of the growing plants,
fall sowing of clover is not advisable. In
such localities the seed must be sown in
the spring. For spring sowing take the
ground that has been run the previous
season in grain, as heretofore specified,
and break well and SOW i'll oats, the clover
to follow Immediately The ground in
tended for clover should always be thorough
" narrowed before the seed are sown and
the breaking of the soil should always be
done deeply with two-horse plow. The grain
seed that precedes the clover should be
put in with the harrow And il the ground
could have g. good shower of rain immedi-
atey after the scattering of the clover
seed, there would be no necessity for any
other covering Of these. But if there is
no prospect for a shower soon after the
sowing, light brush should be run over
the ground. From ten to fifteen pounds
Of clover seed to the acre is sufficient for
sowing.
After the clover has gotten it's stand it
should not be molested until it has made
q whole years growth. The mistake that
many farmers make with clover is in past
uring or cutting it too early or too fire.
Quently. Glover that is intended for the
scythe for hay should never be pastured
under any circumstances. 1t is advisable,
however, after the second years growth
not to cut any of the plant for hay Allow
it to mature its crop of seed and then break
the ground well with the two-horse blow.
turning the sod completely under, and put
upon this Il sowing of wheat early in Oc-
tober When the crop of this grain is har-
vested the next season, it will be seen that
the ground is again covered with another
crop of clover if the previous winter has
hot been SO severe as To freeze out the
plants. NJ. V. N.
FARM QUESTION BOX