The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-01-07
Early Clover Seeding.

Christmas Especially when snow is on
the ground) is when many farmers SOW
clover seed on their wheat. At least
such method has been In use In the
past, and no doubt 1t will be con-
tinued for many years to come; but 1t
Is well worthy the consideration OF
farmers whether the practice OF seed
ing clover on wheat Is the best. When
the farmer drills his wheat In the fall,
ut the same time applying fertilizer.
he follows in the spring with clover
on wheat, frequently sowing the seed
on the snow in order that the work
may be done uniformly. The clover
secures q start, and occupies the
ground until the wheat Is taken on,
when 1t then has full occupancy Of the
conditions of the soil and the weather.
The farmer does this because he be-
lieves that for q portion Of the year
the land Is growing two crops Mt the
same time. ard he is thereby efiect!ng
a saving CT space. 1t must be admit
ted that some of the finest crops OF
clover grown are produced in the man.
ner described (seeding on growing
wheat), and that there Is also q gain
t. the farmer by 30 doing. to certain
extent That the saving Of space Is
apparent cannot be denied. but whether
the system is the best Is point worthy
of discussion at farmers meetings.
All crops give the best results only
under the most favorable conditions.
though certain crops will thrive and
pay even where there are drawbacks
to progress. Clover and wheat are en-.
tirely unlike. for which reason 1t Is
contended that they do not conflict In
the effort to Nbtain plant food. Both
plants must be supplied with potash.
however. and should the clover be al.
lowed to produce seed 1t will also draw
largely upon the soil for phosphoric
acid. It derives but little nitrogen from
the soil, while wheat Is just the oppo.
site In that respect. But both crops
require an abundance Of moisture. and
here the question arises as to the ad-
visibility OF having two crops on the
same land at q time when there Is
liability Of drought and the land In
capable of providing a suificiency OF
moisture for even single crop. Does
the clover injure the wheat or the
wheat the clover during dry periods?
With an average Of only fourteen
bushels of wheat per acre for this coun.
try, It Is evident that the land does
not yield rs much wheat as 1t should.
and with poor catches" OF clover.
and the crop easily killed by drought.
Il Is plain that the method now prac-
ticed OF growing clover may be I'M
proved. Farmers who are Land poor.
have no excuse for having two crops
on the same location. and the clover
crop Is one so valuable that 1t deserves
something better In Its treatment than
being compelled to grow and thrive
on land that has not been prepared for
ii.
It Is expensive to sow clover on
snow. during very cold weather. rs
many OF the seeds are destroyed and
birds consume large portion. II the
land. Is not level the melting snow
causes uneven distribution OF the
seeds. and large proportion OF them
also remain on the surface uncovered
and fail to germinate. These are some
of the causes OF poor catches" which
frequently induce farmers 10 plow up
the crop. or turn STOCK on 1t. waiting
another year only to repeat the same
method. 1t Is claimed that young cio-
yer cannot endure the direct rays OF
the sun, and is benefited by the shad-
ing received by wheat. The fact is
that IL clover land Is plOwed. narrowed
line. and the seed sown later. being
brushed in. SO rs to De well covered.
or rolled. It would require 10 shading.
as It would scrminate quickly. send Its
roots down into the fine soil. and Sc
cure moisture enough to protect 1t from
drought. In the meantime the wheat
crop. not having to give some Of its
moisture to clover. would thrive better
and yield more ut harvest time. Sew
eral farmers who have tried the plan
Of making separate and special prepa'
ration for clover report better yields
OF wheat and sure crop of clover
every time. the difference in yields OF
wheat and hay over the normal pro-
ductions more than paying for the
land and extra labor, the supposed
necessity Of shading clover with 4
grain crop teing erroneous. as 1t is
capable Of taking care Of itself when