The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1893-03-24
T. b. Terry Oh Clover.

Mr. T. B. Terry Is the best farmer
in America. He has grown rich on
SO acres OF land. His opinion Is valu-
able. He says:
IA ton of clover contains $500
worth OF fertilizing material, while
an equal amount of Timothy removes
$500 worth from the soil. The
amount OF albuminOids in the clover
hay is nearly double what Timothy
contains, and albumen is what We
need for forming flesh and muscle.
Fertility is the great object on the
farm. By raising the proper crops
we can reduce the cost Of production
and increase the quality of every
thing. Consider the value of clover
beside other crops, notably those
composed largely of carbonaceOus
matter. 1t 10 easy to see how we can
double the quantity with this prince
ly product. 1t is not difficult to raise
four tons OF clover hay on an acre
between the time when wheat is re.
moved and the end Of the second fall.
The feeding value of this is $57, com-
pared with possible $19 that would
be realized were the land devoted to
timothy. Where red clover has
been in use long time, as on my
own farm, it is not impossible to
raise more than four tons. 1t is just
the crop for the poor man, as it
pumps up The nitrogen from the sub
soil and feeds the surface pants that
could not live and grow without
such assistance. The time will per-
haps come when we shall be COM
PEELED to add mineral matter to our
soils; perhaps it has already arrived
in the East. But why not go on get
ting all we can from the soil by the
aid of cheap clover? Tie plant has
proved itself the cheapest of all
known in the category of feeds as
we'll as fertilizers. If you have not
raised clover perhaps you have
noticed the increased productiveness
OF the soil after a season of drought
Scientists tell us that this is caused
by the working up of the same plant
food which clover pumps up, only in
the case of drought it works towards
the surface ia moisture which the
capillary tubes draw from the sub
soil.
A PLATFORM OF CLOVER PRINCIPLES
But to imagine that clover may be
grown without correct conditions is
to make mistake. A soil must bt
drained, warm and dry. These con
ditions exist naturally on large pro
portion of our cultivated fields; but
where they are absent, mans in
genuity must step in to make goOC
the deficiency. The crop can b.
grown in rotation embracing three
four or five years. After long anC
careful experiments, | have found TO
my soil and locality, a rotation o
clover, wheat and potatoes the mos
profitable. a longer rotation ant
the use of other crops might b.
adopted with equal wisdom on othe
places; for instance, it is prObabl
that for farmers nearer market, ry
would take the place Of wheat, becaus
of the demand fo- good straw, an,
sweet corn or other crops could tax
turns with potatoes as source q
money income. In my rOtatiO
money comes from the wheat au
potatoes, the clover being fed on tn
farm. A strong reason why l Sc
wheat and potatoes in preference {
some other crops is because of tn
small amount of fertility they re
move from the soil. The manuri'
value of ton of wheat is 500, an
of 200 bushels of potatoes $12. Thu
while receive good money retur
from the acre for two years, the crOI
really cost me but $40, outside of Il
Dor, taxes, etc. When clover hi
it's turn l get no less than FIVE ton
which are worth, including the root
at least S65.