The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-11-15
OUR RURAL TOPICS,
Some Practical Suggestions for Oar
Agricultural Readers
Glover Seed.

great loss, as 1T Is the chief source OF the IN
PRODUCTION of weeds on many farms. An
investigation rs to the purity, cleanliness
and vitality of the seed was undertaken by
the Ontario station, and the following con-
illusions were reached:
The number of seeds present is of more
Importance than their weight in determin-
ing the number of weeds.
The presence of weed seeds is far more
serious than any adulteration from pieces
OF quartz, gravel, wood, etc.
1t is a great mistake to buy cheap seed, rs
it is likely to possess poor vitality by being
old and to contain the seeds of weeds.
Seedsmen who sell pure seed require ex-
pensive machines to clean it, and therefore
cannot be expected to sell their seed as
cheap rs those who take but little pains to
have a good article.
Among the most common foreign seeds
likely to be in clover are: Grass seeds, white
cookie, sorrel, rib-grass ox-eye daisy, chicory,
smartweed, chess, black bindweed, false flax,
and thistle.
Every farmer should have a collection of
the seeds of weeds. 1t would not be O diff
cult matter to collect sample of each; this
would be OF great assistance in identifying
the seeds of weeds which might become a
great pest.
Farmers should examine carefully all new
seeds from other places. A very few weed
seeds in half an ounce of seed will be thou
sands in what is required to SOW an acre.
The samples examined were quite true to
name; the vitality of the seeds was high,
many reaching over 90 per cent.
Winter Protection of Berries.
If yon would grow berries successfully in
a Northern climate, you must give them pro-
lection in Winter. This protection should
be afforded in all localities where the tenn
perature reaches zero or below. Even with
the most hardy plants, and in localities
where they show no injury, the vitality Is
often impaired and the succeeding crop very
much reduced. With high cultivation
large and tender growth is produced, hence
the greater necessity for maintaining as uni
form temperature as possible throughout
the Winter and early Spring. There is
SAFETY only in protection. The first warm
days in March are especially trying. pro-
lection of earth or other mulch carries them
safely through the severest Winter and
beyond this critical period.
The best Winter protection for blackber-
ries, raspberries, and grapes ID obtained by
laying them down aud covering lightly with
earth. If plants have been Tnulched in
coarse manure, as they should be, use the
mulching first, then cover lightly with earth.
The process of laying plants fiat on the
ground before covering is an important one,
and is easily acquired with a little practice.
If rows run north and south, commence at
the north end, remove the earth about four
inches deep from the north side of the hill,
gather The bushes in close form with we'll
protected hands, and pull gently toward the
north AT the same time a second man
places his foot firmly on the south side of
the hill and presses hard toward the north,
bending the plants in the root until nearly
fat on the ground. II ground is hard or
bushes old, the first man may Gse wide
two-tine fork 10 push carefully over, and
the second man pOtato-fork instead OF the
foot, inserting the same deeply, close to the
south side of hill, bending in the root as
before until nearly fat on the ground. The
first man then holds the bush down until
properly covered. The top of succeeding
hill, resting close to side of preceding hill,
makes q continuous covered row. In Spring
remove the earth carefully with fork, and
slowly raise the bush. Two men should lay
down and cover from one-quarter 10 one
half acre per day.-Country Gentleman.
Crimson Clover. Timothy, Bermuda Grass.
On moist loan or sandy land any time in
September Is considered the right time to
SOW crimson clover. Here on dry land it
mnst be sown early enough to get the benefit
OF the moist weather which is ushered in by
dog DAYS In general whenever the next
two or three weeks can be counted on for
plenty of moisture and shade. Twelve to ID
poands of clean seed or 80 to 40 pounds of
seed ia chsff is enough to use per acre If we'll
rs this crop stools heavily when
it has good chance. Sow on the surface or
cover very lightly. Few grasses can mature
with crimson clover. Common rye, or even
Italian rye grass, may be sown with crimson
clover when the design is to cut for green
food or hay. Thtse can about keep pace
with the clover We would use one-half
bushel of rye or one bushel Italian rye grass
per acre with eight to II pounds of the
clover seed.
Glover finds its own nitrogen by extrac-
ton from the atmosphere aided by peculiar
of the soil, hence only phosphates
and potash, or lime TO set these free in the
soil, would be needed. The needs of the
particular soil should be consulted as to the
element it lacks which Is needed to produce
!, bountiiul crop of clover. Hence trials of
potash, phosphate, and the two combined
would be in order wherever it is desirable
to use chemicals for this crop. Amounts
should be varied, too; as what would be a
profitable amount for one field or farm might
prove too little or too much for those adj
Joining. We would broadcast before or after
the harrow at seeding, or use as a top dress
ing little later.
Bermuda grass will smother out some of
the grasses, but the soil bearing it will prob
ably be your best place for timothy. For
ordinary sowing, orchard grass is hardy, and
a rank grower, and will beat timothy but it
gets woody If not cut early, and has not so
good reputation for hay, although properly
handled it is equally as good or better, and
OF the same character. 1t is one to three
v eeks earlier than timothy. Sow two
bushels per acre, and with it two bushels
Kentucky blue grass and six pounds CON-
mon red clover. OF timothy eight to 10
pounds of seed with six to eight pounds of
pea vine clover would be fair seeding on the |
Bermuda grass SOIL Where the Bermuda
is absent we would aid four or five pounds of
white clover seed, or two bushels of meadow
fox tail, to furnish aftermath to protect the
bulbs from the sun, otherwise it |
would be in danger of destruction after |
first moving. 1t would be well to grow a |
crop OF pea vines this Summer to pillow in for |
the grass seeding. Plow deep, turning the
vines well under when nearly or quite all |
ripe; harrow TO seed bed without disturb
ing the vines, aud sow the seed then, whether |
August or as late as Noyember.-F. f. |
EMERY, North Carolina Experiment Station. |