Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-08-05

chemically combined with other sub
stances. The clovers and cow peas
have the peculiar faculty of appropri-
ating, Transforming, and retaining this
free nitrogen of the air in such a way
as to make the richest kind Of plant
food from it. Wherever they will
flourish land some of them will do
well almost anywhere), this may be
done at almost no cost. Of all Of
them crimson clover is the most pecul-
iarly adapted to achieve this, and
wherever it will succeed it should be
grown for this purpose if for no other.
1t delights in a rather loose, sandy
soil, and in a climate that is neither
very cold nor very hot. The seed
should be sOwn almost univerS ally in
the late summer or early fall, as the
little plants will not endure the heat
# midsummer, but will dwindle and
die If sOwn before the days begin to
get a little cool on the approach of
fall the little plants will surely die.
but the moist soil ard cool weather of
the fall and the following spring seem
to just suit their growth. If rot sown
early enough for the plants to get
we'll rooted before freezing weather,
they will be heaved out of the ground
and dried to death by the cold, es-
ptcially where there is frequent freez-
ing and thawinG. Where snow covers
the ground all winter there is little
trouble of this kind
Experience has taught that some sort
OF protection in winter is beneficial,
although it is not always absolutely
necessary. Various methods are prac-
ticed to secure this protection Where
tomatoes are grown for the canneries,
the clover seed is often sOwn at the
last cultivation, and the dead tomato
tops cover a large part of the ground
and shelter the little clover plants.
Some SOW about one bushel, or half
the usual amount of buckwheat per
acre, and fifteen pounds of crimson
clover seed at the same tine The
buckWheat may be harvested if it
natures, or allowed to fall down and
thus make a better mulch as protec-
Another good plan is to SOW turnip
seed along with the clover seed. The
largest of the turnips may be gathered
and marketed or fed on the farm, and
the small ones left to shelter the
clover. Some SOW about a bushel Of
winter oats or rye per acre with the
clover, which not only acts as 4 winter
protection, but keeps the clover from
falling down when it is large enough
to cut, and helps to make excellent
hay.
But there is another very important
thing in the growth of crimson clover
that is deemed essential to complete
success, and that is potash. 1t acts
on the clover like magic, making it
grow luXUriantly and gather much
more nitrogen from the air than if
no potash had beer applied. And then,
1t the clover crop is all plowed under
the potash is there all safe, and in the
best form to he available for the; next
crop, whatever that may be- 1t is not
lest or wasted by any means. should
the clover be cut and fed to the stock.
for it would all be eventually returned
to the land in the shape of manure. To
Put the potash on the clover is there
fore much better than to wait until
after it has been grown, and then apply
it to the following crop of grain,
potatoes, or anything else 1t will pay
ten times over for the longer time
taken, by enabling the clover to ex-
tract much more nitrogen from the
air
The same treatment will prove
equally profitable for almost anv
other of the nitrogen gatherers. such
as red clover or COW peas. Sow it on
the land at time of seeding or soon
after Do not buy tGat which nature
and a little ingenuity will give you for
almost nothing. If you are where Grim
son clover will succeed, try to have
big crop of it to turn under in Nav. IF
you will give it plenty of rctash YOU
VIII get the cost all back, and much
more in a big crop of corn or what
ever you may choose to grow.