Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-01-07
FARM AND GARDEN.
MATTERS OF INTEREST TO
ACRICULTURALIST.
some Up-to-Date Hints About CultIva-
ton OF the Soil aud Yields Thereof
Horticulture. viticulture and Flori-
culture.


Red Clover In tho South.
Farmers Bulletin IS: Until recent
y 1t has been thought that red clover
could not be grown in the Southern
states, but our experience has beeii
that on suitable soils and with proper
management 1t will grow fully as wen
here as in any of the Northern states,
and that, while it does not last as
long here, its yield is heavier, and on
account Of its more rapid growth, the
quality of hay is better. In North
Carolina it has succeeded we'll and has
maintained full stand longer than In
most other sections; while ON the
sandy white soil of the Florida station
1t has done but little. At the Louis
lana station it has made vigorous
growth, affording two large cuttings
during the first season, but 1t soon sue
cumbs to the Entertainments of native
grasses. At the Mississippi station on
rich creek bottom and on black prairie
soils 1t has given excellent results,
making 2 tons of hay per acre in May,
another ton in June, and in favorable
seasons another ton in September,
though the last cutting has been unre-
liable on account Of summer drouths.
Where such yields can be made 1t is
one of the best crops which can be
grown, but there are many localities In
the South where it has not been found
profitable. 1t requires soil which Is
rich and in fairly good condition to
secure catch" of the seed, and on
many soils where it makes promis-
Ing start and yields two or three cut
tings 1t soon becomes overrun with the
native grasses and is choked out. or-
dinarily it will not pay to grow 1t more
than two years on the same ground,
as by the end of that time it will have
done its best work in fertilizing the
soil, and the land will give better re-
turns If the last crop Of clover is
plowed under and the field planted to
some other crop. AS the plants pro-
duce seed abundantly here and are
not infested with the insects which
have recently done so much damage to
the crop in the Northern states. there
seems to be no reason why the seed
crop should not become of considerable
Importance.
Red clover is universally recog-
nized standard in estimating the values
of all other crops, when grown either
for hay or as green manure, and we
have made special Efforts to test it on
as great variety of soils as possible,
and do not hesitate to recommend it
for all rich soils which are in good me-
chanical condition; but 1t is useless to
SOW it on barren fields, or on rough
and poorly prepared lands of any kind.
It seems best suited for growth on al
luvial and black prairie soils, and has
never been satisfactory on sandy or
white lime lands. August sowings have
given the best satisfaction, as the
plants from such sowings are sufficient
ly strong to keep down any growth of
wild grasses and weeds the next spring,
and will give heavy cutting of hay
in May. If sown in February, the
more common time, the first cutting
will be principally of volunteer grasses,
but the clover will give two good cut
.ings later. Sowing with oats in Feb
ruary is often successful, but the clov-
,r is often injured by cutting the oats,
thus removing the shade just at the
of the hot weather. Sow
oushel of the seed to each acres.