The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-07-25

Within the past five years there has
been quite a revolution in methods Of
farming, due 70 the innovation Of scsr-
let (for crimson) clover in some SCI
tons, and its advantages cannot easily
BE- estimated Red clover, a. is weil
known. Is biennial. The seed is sOwn
in the spring, on wheat or some other
shading crop, the land being occupied
by il until the following summer, when
il wa moved ior hay, the second
growth being for the production Of
seed. Crimson clover isan annual, the
seed being Sown in Aug. OF even as late
A. sept. and the crop moved in May OF
June. The advantage of this + that
while the red clover must be seeded
down early in the spring, and on GER
tain plots Of ground, the crimson vari-
ETY. may be seeded ON nearly all kinds
of soils, and on wheat, corn, rye, or
oats land after the grain crop has been
removed. IL also gives surer ''cateh,
and may be reseeded should the plants
be thin. and as il starts of early in the
spring il may be moved and gotten out
of the way early for another crop Of
some kind.
Crimson clover, though belonging to
the legumes, i better adapted 10 light
soils than Il the red. While it gives
the best results ON rich land, and g.
peeially ON well prepared soil, Yet this
season has demonstrated that il will
grow almost anywhere unless i'm pure
white sand, but on light, sandy soil
that has been lined, or given an appli-
cation of wood ashes, il has produced
crops where growth Of red clover
would be impossible. 1t produces from
one to three tons of hay per acre, ac-
cording 10 the soil, and On rich land
even more. From 10 to Is quarts of
seed per acre may be sown and it Is adj
visable to use plenty Of seed Ii has
excellent qualities ~ hay, and j. more
easily cured without damage from dews
or dampness than the red IL Is not
superior 10 the red, but may be grown
where the red variety will fail, and as
it i an excellent green manurial crop,
its value in that respect is great Itmay
be seeded down when other work il
nearly over and is out Of the way in
spring to permit of the most important
crops 70 be attended 10.
In Delaware, Maryland, Eastern
Virginia and portions of Pennsylvania
and New jersey farmers are preparing
for large crops this fall. IL may be
seeded down on wheat stubble land or
on corn after the last working of the
crop. While thriving best if sOwn ON
prepared land, yet crops were grown
this year ON land that was in corn last
year, the crimson turned under, and
the land put in corn or potatoes this
year 10 Is nitrogen gatherer,' and
serves to enrich the soil The lands
that have been devoted to peach or
chards which have been injured are be-
ing sOwn in crimson clover, and cattle,
sheep and hogs are receiving attention
in sections that formerly were not prof
liable stock farms. The greatest advan-
tage of crimson clover Is that il will
produce a crop of green manure in tim,
10 be turned under for corn or the hay
may be secured and the stubble plOwed
under. IL Is ready 70 be moved by the
middle of May, thus being out Of the
way for corn before June. Such for
age plant, being a lcgume and which
can occupy the land after corn is taken
off, and which comes 80 quickly in the
spring, is sure 70 revOlutiOnize tn
methods now in vogue on farms that
ha We only light, sandy soils.