The Savannah morning news., 1900-08-27
Crimson Glover in south Carolina.

I have often heard the COW pea called
"the crimson clover of the South" and
the name is well deserved. 1 should dis
like to spare either Of these plants, says
W. r. Elliott in Practical farmer. value
crimson clover fer this reason: 1 can
grow it during the winter when l can't
have peas. and thus have a covering TO
protect my land when most needed. By
using the clover and the peas l get two
leguminous crops that collect and store
nitrogen for other crops to feed upon.
Crimson clover contains 81 per cent. crude
protein and the COW pea only 25 per cent
Hence a point in favor of clover.
My main object in planting clover is 10
improve and save the soil aud while this
is being done | have at the same time
good green food to Craze on when needed
during the winter. for either horses, COWS
or hogs. I stop the grazing in early
spring and get a good crop of hay to feed
out during the summer.
Last fell l sowed my entire plantation,
with the exception of Twenty-Five acres,
in grain. Eighteen were in cotton; six
were in corn sown broadcast in peas,
which | turned under later for potatoes,
etc. Three acres | sowed in crimson clo
yer in October, and one in clover and
grass seed mixed. The last one l sowed
in rye and clover. The acres sown mixed
showed up much better than those upon
which the clover was sown acne. My
first experiment was made in october,
1885, by running a S0-inch sweep two
inches deep between the rows in a six
acre cotton field and sowing fifteen rounds
of seed per acre. l then made the p.ows
turn back and run through again, just
sitting in the seed, and l got an excellent
stand and made a fine crop of clover. L
cut this while in bloom in May, and turn
ed the green stubble under with a two
horse turn pillow for cotton again, putting
400 pounds of acid phosphate per acre in
the drill The cotton was about two weeks
later getting started, but as the clover be-
gan TO improve, and when a drought came
in August, the clover told TO the COW;
as it grew larger, held it's color better and
fruited better than cotton just across the
road manured with 200 pounds of acid
Phosphate thoroughly ccmpOsted. Soil was
the same and was worked in like manner.
in 1896 | planted thrty-four acres in like
manner and had equally as good results.
In 1877 | broke and narrowed well two and
one-half acres of ground and brushed in
the seed. 1 got a very fine stand and
made the finest clover l have ever seen
except O field at the State Agricultural
College, which was very highly MANFRED.
l used no fertilizer at all but the soil
was very rich TO begin with. The past
year l sowed five and one-hah acres of
bottom land and narrowed it with a $50
pound harrow and did not get a stand.
l attribute the failure to my using a
heavy harrow and not to faulty seed;
some of it 1 carried over and goa a good
stand this season.
The best time to sow is from the first
OF October to middle of December, in this
climate. Late sowing does better than
early sowing, as the heat is worse for
clover than cold; though If sown in cot
ton ground the foliage answers double
purpose in protecting the clover from the
sun and also from frost later on. If the
seed is sown alone, not mixed with rye
or oats. etc, cloudy spell of weather is
most favorable, and the ground should
already be prepared 10 catch such spells.
L have never missed a stand when thus
sown, if the seed was not covered too
deep. The main object is to get the clover
started Once started the troubles cease.
have for the last three years been
retaining a three-acre field by sowing
crimson clover in the fail and following
with peas in the spring. l began by put
ting 100 pounds of cotton seed meal to the
acre for the clover and then 200 pounds
of acid phosphate for the peas. This fed
is now in good shape and planted in wheat
without any fertilizer. 1 never fertilize
clover except for hay crop when need
ed; but l find that the stock all relish II
and never suffer from eating it, as IS
often the complaint. If left standing un-
iii the seed is ripe 1t is very hard 10
digest. To cure il 1 cut when dew is off
ana rake into wind rows in the afternoon
then let it stand one day, and throw into
cocks for ore day longer, when | haul in.
As to being easily cured, it comes next
to Bermuda grass. with me, and this is
the easiest crop know to cure
Every farmer should plant clover
whether II be crimson or some other va
riety. but crimson is my favorite and 7
ike to grow it to improve the soil. as II
affords so much vegetable matter to turn
under' and without plenty of humus you
VIII be without much of a crop To plant
more clover and buy less fertilizer. Won
VIII succeed better.
Fairfield County S. C.