The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-09-12
FORAGE AND
FERTILIZER.
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.


lists of the State, being aware of the
fact that several gentlemen of Orange
burg county had been dcyoting some
attention to the cultivation of crimson
clover as forage crop, sent cores
pondcnt to interview them with O view
of ascertaining the result of their ex-
periments with crimson clover. Pro.
badly the experience Of these men
may prove of interest to other farmers
over the State, and at least induce
them to an investigation into the mer-
its or dcmerits of the plant, more es-
peclally as it is comparatively new
plant in this country.
It Is indigenous to 1tal y. whence it
WAS first brought to America, ahd for
some time the United States depart
ment of agriculture has been expert
mentiug with its cult vation and ad-
vantages with the result that it is very
highly recommendation their bulletins.
It's planted in the North to some ex-
tent and very largely in Dclewarc and
Maryland. but it grows very luxnrlnt-
ly in this latitude.
Mr.. +. r. SanGfcrd, of Orangrbnrg,
hns for the past few years been plant
ing this clover and observing very
carefully The results, and his expe-
ricrcc with the plant may prove Of in
tercst to others. He says that the hay
from n field of crimson clover is cx-
ceedcd by none AS Il winter pa tnrc
for stock it is most excellent aul as Il
iertilizer for planting land it pays. If
the farmer has nothing else in view
than the fertilization of his cotton or
corn. it would prove of incstimable
value for crop Of this clover to be
sown after harvesting in the fail and
then turned under IN the spring
before planting the regular crops. 1t
is said thatit may he graZed sl] duling
the winter and still leave the land in
better condition than in the fall on nc
count of the exceedingly fine fertili
zzation qualities of:the crop:
is given in the Government Bulletin,
with view of proving its fertilizing
qualities: To one hundred pounds of
the green crop thcr" is $3.50 ronnds
moisture, 0.43 pounds nitrogen. 0.l3
pounds phosphoric acid, 0.49 pounds
potassium oxide. Probably th7 great
est results from this crop may be OBJ
tanned from the planting Of it with
view to fertilizing and thereby I'M
proving the condition Of regular fa:t1l-
ing lands. However, as fe":l crop,
Mr.. Sandford says that he is pleased
with the results; that cattle thrive upon
it; 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 may be easily
made during year with this crop.
The most suitable time to plant is
from the 1st of August to the 1st of
November. September being most
desirable.
1t is distinctivcly winter crop, and
by the first OF May the hay is ready to
be harvested, which gives plenty OF
time for the planting of Irregular crop.
When it is only planted Tor fcrtilizins
purposes it may be planted in very
much the same manner as COW peas,
except that the seed must not be coY-
cred.
If the object is forage crop, Dir.
Sandford says, the proper and most
profitable manner of cultivation is to
first turn the land very shallow with
q common turn plough; then thorough
" stir the land with Il deep prongrd
"snbsoilcr;;" then scatter the stable
manure or whatever other fertilizers
arc to, bc used and harrow the land
over completely. After this the seed
is 70 be sowo, about - pounds to the
acre, and use light roller to smooth
over the ground, the seed not re-
unirins to he turned under Ivy any
other means. In q few days the seed
will begin to sprout and very soon the
land will he covered with the green
growth, and it will continue to grow
through the entire winter, not being
effected by the coolest weather.
Care should be 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 contain the
clover cl.at, which is only the worth J.
less, the Russian or Egyptian thistle,
which is q regular pest on ire 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-
sembles pea vine hay, only the vines
are much smaller than the pea vines.
The seed are about the size of bird
shot, and resemble common COW pea
in shape, the taste being also very
much like that of COW pea.
Very many of the farmers of Orange
burg county are now planting patch
of crimson clover, and if they succeed
with it its culture will become very
common next year.
Mr.. ". B. Thompson, one year age
planted patch of the clover and thl'
| past spring had the hay cut. He l:
! well pleased with the crop, and nas
the following to say regarding MI
experience. zoo,
ION the Goth of August, 1894,
planted one eighteenth of an acre II
crimson clover. The land had beer
we'll prepared. No effort was made tf
cover the seed as had no roller. Al
early rain soon brought up the seee
and the plants grew rapidly. The sol