Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1901-08-16
FARM AND GARDEN.
THE value of Mammoth Glover.

Ems. COUNTRY GENTLEMAN Under
caption of 1.-THE Giant Red Glover" Up.
bs1l 7 note what Mr.. L. Balderston writes
regarding the plant, and to aid in setting
farmers right, [ take part in the matter.
While I have grown but one crop, 1t has
come about that | should know much OF
the plant from other sources.
have for number of years taken
much pleasure in studying the nature OF
the several varieties OF clover WIN
view of learning their value to the gen.
eral farmer. Mammoth or giant req
clover belongs to the same species as the
medium red, and Is biennial or snort
nerennial-under certain conditions the
same az medium red is an annual. The
only difference between the two Is that
the mammoth grows larger, and takes
longer to mature. Making seed the first
crop because its season of perfecting 1T
self Is most favorable to insects aiding
fertilization, it would produce second
crop of seed If the season were long
enough. So also would medium clover
produce seed the first crop, except for
the reason that it blooms too early for
humble bees in large numbers to aid in
fertilization, and that the honey bees are
attracted by other bloom more suitable
to their use.
Mr.. Balderston believes that it Is an
annual. l can conceive of two reasons
at least why he comes to this conclusion
first, the climate has doubtless been
very favorable to its growth the year it
was sown, and it has exhausted itself
developing seed; or second, the rank
growth has smothered the plants during
the first winter. / am satisfied from my
own experience, that when medium red
is allowed to produce seed the first year,
much of it proves an annual and dies.
In this county, few miles west OF my
farm, there is section of country COM
posed of excellent farming lands, owned
by good farmers. Many of these farmers
grow mammoth clover in regular rota-
ton with wheat and corn. 1t is sown In
the spring on the land occupied by
wheat. After the wheat is cut, the stub
BILE is pastured. The next year the most
is expected of the crop. 1t is pastured
early In the season, say till June 10, and
then allowed to mature seed, the seed
crop being ripe early in August. After
the seed crop, with favorable conditions
regarding the weather, it is again past
ured. The third spring after sowing, the
land is plowed for corn.
L know farmer in another part of the
county who has grown the crop for
years, about so acres each year. One
year the yield of seed was 90 bushels per
acre. He pastures till about June 10,
and If he has not cattle of his own to
pasture down close, borrows of his neigh
bors, or takes in animals of the poor and
unfortunate, without expectation OF pay.
III he cannot get it eaten of close. he
clips with the mower, but finds the seed
yield is best after close grazing. This
grower always expects fall pasture after
the seed crop is secured; the amount, of
course, is governed by the rainfall.
Many find fault with the plant used as
pasture because of its rank growth. This
is not fair objection, but rather in its
favor, because livestock enough should
be kept on it to prevent rank growth. and
its value will then be found in the new
growth constantly shooting up.
So far, have written of it as grown
on rich lands, very much of it black
soil. A gentleman residing in another
part of the state, owning a clay farm,
but limestone soil. told me that 1t was
not entirely satisfactory with him be-
cause it died after being cut for seed.
And this is doubtless true in many other
sections where a seed crop has been
taken. The nature of the soil, we find
from this, has much to do with the value
of the plant as a forage crop.
Its value as hay crop is much i'm
proved, learn, by pasturing about one
month In the spring. This reduces the
excessive quantity of straw that must
be handled if the whole seasons growth
is allowed for hay, and also makes the
hay less coarse and more, it delays the
time of hay-cutting till there is more sun
and heat to aid in curing the hay. How
ever, as hay crop, | much prefer to
grow the medium variety. It's generally
conceded that the mammoth or giant is
the most valuable as a fertilizing plant.
-JOHN NJ. JAMESON, Ross County, o.
Effect of Exposing Potato Seed.
Some interesting and valuable expert
ments were made last season by the