The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1895-09-13
CRIMSON CLOVER HAY EXCEED-
ED BY NONE AS a WIN
TER PASTURE
For stock and for Fertilizing Cotton
and Corn Lands. Look Out
for Good Seed and
Avoid the Rus
sian Thistle.

fact that several gentlemen of Orange
burg county had been devotiug some
attention to the cultivation of crimson
clover as forage crop, sent CORES
pondent to interview them with a view
OF ascertaining the result of their ex-
perlments with crimson clover. Pro-
badly the experience of these men
may prove of interest to other farmers
over the State, and Mt least induce
them to an investigation into the mer-
Its or demerits of the plant, more es-
peclally as it is n comparatively new
plant IN this country.
1T Is indigenous to italy. whence it
was first brought to America, and for
some time the United States DEPART
ment of agriculture has be,u eypcri.
menting with its cultivation and adj
vantages with the result that it is very
highly rccommcndedin their bulletins.
1t Is planted In the North To- some cX-
tent and very largely in Delaware and
Maryland but it grows very luxuriut-
ly III this latitude
MIR. L. Il. SandfOrd. of Orangcburg,
mas Tor the pnst few years hcrn plant
ING this clover and observing very
carefully the results. anil his cypc-
rlencc with the plant may prove Of in
tercst to others. He says that the hav
from field of crimson clover is cX-
cecdci by none. ASA winter pasture
Tor stock 1t is most excellent nu,i as u
fertilizer for planting llu,, i ;.uvS. II
the farmer has nothing else in view
than the fertilization Of his cotton or
corn, 1t would prove OF inrStimable
value for n crop Of this clover to be
sown after harvesting in the fall and
then turned under in the sprinr
before planting the regular crops. 1t
Is said that it may be grnzed all during
the winter and still leave the land in
better condition than in the fall on ne.
count of the exceedingly tino fertili.
Zatlon qualities of the crop.
The following analysis of this clover
Is given In the Government Bulletin.
with view of proving its fcrtilizing
qualities: To one hundred rounds of
the green crop there is ~ 30 pounds
moisture, O.i3 pounds nitrogen, O.l3
pounds ph"Sph""ic acid, 90 pounds
potassium oxide. Probably the great
est results from this crop may be OBJ
tanned from the pinutiug of it with n
view to fcr.iiHing and thereby i'm.
proving the condition of regular farm.
ing lands. However, rs y food crop.
Mr.. Snndford says that he is pleased
with the results; ihat cattle thrive upon
Its pasture during the winter, cows,
horses and hogs; that horses seem very
fond of the hay and even prefer It to
fresh oats. Two crops NAV he easily
made during year with this cron
The most suitable time to plant is
from the lst of August to the lst of
November. September being most
desirable.
1t Is dlstlnctivcly II winter crop, and
blythe first OF May the hay is ready TO
be harvested, which gives plenty of
time for the planting of II irregular crop.
When 1t Is only planted for fcrtilizing
purposes it may he planted in very
much the same mnnucr as cow peas.
except that the seed must not I've Gov
cred.
II the object is n forage crop, Mr..
Sandtord says, the proper and most
profitable manner OF cultivation is to
first turn the land very shallow with
n common turn plough; then thorough
~ STR the land with IL deep prongcd
'suhSOllrr;' then scatter the stable
manure or whatever other fertilizers
arc to be used and harrow the land
over completely. After this the seed
IL to be s"wn, about l5 pounds to the
acre, and use light roller to smooth
over the ground, the seed not re-
curing to be turned under hy nnv
other means. In u few days the seed
will begin to sprout and very soon the
land will be covered with the green
growth, and it will continue to grow
through the entire winter, not being
effected by the coldcst weather.
Care should bc exercised in the Sc
lection of the seed for the planting of
this crop, for some seed that is offered
on the market is liable to contnin the
clover chat, which is only the worth
less, the Russlnn or Egyptian thistle,
whlch is regular pest on the land.
but with proper care in the purchase
OF seed, there is very little danger of
being troubled with this thistle.
Your correspondent was shown a
bundle OF the hay, which greatly re-
semblcS pen vine hay, only tho vines
are much smaller than the pea vines.
lhe seed are about the size Of bird
shot, and resemble common COW pea
IN shape, the taste being also very
i. L