The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-02-14
AGRICULTURE.
SOWING CLOVER IN THE WIN.
TER.
An Interesting L etter by Prof Irby, Late
Agriculturist N. c. Experiment Sta

Agriculturist N. c. Experiment Sta
tion
Correspondence of the Progressive Farmer.
To SOW red clover in the winter is
rather risky, it is true, but when one
fails to SOW in October or November,
then the next best time is in February;
at least, tnat has been my experience
here in North Carolina.
The idea is simply this: try to get
the crop advanced by sowing in the
fall If possible, as it will get deeply
rooted and can make far greater
growth in the spring.
However, we may fail in seeding or
an early freeEe may damage the stand,
or else the ground may be occupied by
some crop in the fall, that does not
permit OF fall sowing.
The chances for success are just
about two out OF three, sowing in the
fall; and about one outot three sowing
i'm February. Some will say: "Well,
if the chances are only one out of three
for success, then it will not pay to risk
It," But holG good Judgment comes
in there, and if we will but prepare
and plant right, we will invariably sue
ceed; unless the weather is exception
ally bad. II the ground spurs up, or
lifts" ," as it is sometimes called, just
as the seeds have terminated, then the
stand is sure to be Injured, if not en-
tirely destroyed.
So as this season, would be sure not
to plant clover on land of stiff clay,
as that is sure to be affected.
Sandy or loamy soils are all right.
Then again, the soil should be well
drained and deeply plo Red, and the
lifting" will be reduced to mini
mum.
For the benefit of young farmers
who are probably sowing for the first
time, will give my method of prepa-
ration and sowing.
Drain the land we'll, plow deep with
two.horse plow. If the land has
never been broken deep, then / would
prefer to plow just little deeper than
it was broken before and use subsoil
plow. This insures deep soil bed and
thick sponge to absorb moisture toE
future in times Of drouths. II any
fertilizers are to be used, (and there
should be on nine tenths, If not ten
tenths of our land), SOW it broadcast
Just after the blowing Next run over
che land with spring toothed harrow
or with a cutaway harrow. This viii
level down and cut up the clods and
work the fertilizer thor oughly.
Now run a reversible smoothing har
row over the land and fJlloW this witt
q drag, made of plank, nailed together
weatherboard fashion.
Now SOW the seed about Is pounds tt
the acre with Cyclone seed sower
The land will be smooth and level anC
there will be no trouble about the dis
tance, as your tracks can be easily been
It is best to SOW u pounds on the lant
per acre walking length wise OF tht
field, and then u pounds walking cross
wise. This insures more even stand
The wind and other conditions viii
affect the sowing somewhat. Now U.s.
the same reversible smoothing harrow
with the teeth set we'll back to worl
the seed in and try to cover them abou
half an inch to one inch. It will b.
, found that the seed will come up even
, lv, ss there are no holes to be filled
} nor clods to crush. But the benefit
thorough preparation does not en'
} here. The extra trouble and expeus
of preparing the land will be saved Il
{ the ease with which the moving l
done, and in the repair bills for me
} chinery. AS for fertilizers for clover,
{ might add that on thin soil nothln
4 helps so much as manure well worke