The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1904-04-23
Farmers Discuss the Growing of Grass.

| Farmers Discuss the Growing of Grass
| eS.-At the last meeting of the Junior Gun
powder Agricultural Club thesubiect DISCUSSED
was: Would it be profitable TO grow more
alfalfa and other clovers?'' We append tht
views of some of those present:
] Mr.. E. E. Scott said +: I'VE know that alfalfs
and other clovers are protein crop. We should
grow alfalfa to save. My first trial was In q
tage in being pastured, etc. Nv second trial
was on soil land turned under Other grasses
got ahead and choked it out. l think alfalfa
waited before. think the tall seeding is surer
than the spring sowing. as in the spring other
grasses growing with it are detIiment. Ow-
and other clovers. The land needs lime. as it
and clover seem to go together. l have sown
field that had not been lined for years. and vet
cut good crop of volunteer clover last wear
mad lot of rye that gave me a big load of rye
after it had been headed out; then after that
cut crop of clover, making three crops off the
same hand last year. We cannot choose our
seasons; we must do our part and trust to
have shorter rotations of growing crops and
manage to grow more clOvers aud less timothy
and, If possible, SOW clover alone. L think, as
protection to clover, the stubble of grain should
pc cut high. l have never tried crimson clover
Mr. Wings plan was to sow alfalfa in the spring
with barley, and in the fall alfalfa alone.'i
Mr.. Granville Matthews said I'VE are to find
out how to keep clover alive. In Montgomery
county crimson clover has been grown success
1uAiJ duu uduc BOOu udys several OI nv neigh
bors sowed some seed last fall My idea is to
plant corn to be followed with peas for hay and
sow alfalfa in the fall. 1t seems strange about
clover, as so often it fails. One year plowed a
field and MANFRED it the clover that followed
was big CROP"
M. 2. v. Richardson said: Alfalfa is in it's
experimental stage in this State. We must not
let the thorns choke it out. Get it through the
frst year and it is CO. On starting it get it out
ing; unless the fall is very favorable it will
winter Kill. Alfalfa will grow here, but should
not be sown on wet bottom land. The common
well, especially when the red does not take, as
1t catches more readily. White clover which Is
valuable volunteer crop, ALREADY makes good
grazing Put me down as an aaSocate Tor ali
clovers. Alsike is easier to get. Clover loves
found on one field that clover took we'll only
where the lime went, and my last experience
was that clover took as well where no lime was,
but the whole field had been MANFRED which
might account for it, Timothy is also benefited
by lime. A poor field has nice set of volun-
teer white clover, and has stood five years with
good results. attribute it to the use of lime.
Bacteria is now question in growing clover.
A good crop shows it. 1t is supposed to be
yer growing. The why's and wherefores l cam
not give. 1t is wise to grow all clovers, as they
are good for stock and land"
Mr.. Charles III. Price said II find that land
that has been lined produces the best crop. I
tried once to get alfalfa; my mistake was SOW
ing it on plowed sod land. The seed came up
out l think it necessary to make the ground
good for it, and have rotation of crops before
sowing"
Mr.. D. S. Pearce said: 81 have had no expert
ence with alfalfa. l have the ensilage; now
want the PROTEIN, and would grow alfalfa if 1
could get good sets OF it. A profit would be in
growing what we have to buy. The advice of
one who has lot of it is not to SOW any catch
crops with it. have seen cattle run for the al
falfa lot, and have seen alfalfa raised out of the
ground by the frost. Owing to stock it is well |
not to grow alfalfa near the buildings. l set |
two fields of corn in grass and got good sets,and
think Of sowing orchard grass in strips with the
volunteer clover"
Mr.. B. NJ Brooks said 81 have not much ex- |
perience in growing alfalfa. From what know |
If we could raise it like they do in the West. !
cut 1t three or four times season and get from |
to tons per ea acre at each cutting then there
care is taken for alfalfa than for oats. We often
lose more of red clover sets by drought than in |
other ways. 1t Is more risky to sow late than |
after oats was killed month later by drought"
Mr.. Calvin Price said II have had no expert |
ence with alfalfa. From what have read and |
heard think it would be profitable crop. If |
We use lime / think we should get good set, as |
ime seems to be good thing for red clover. 1 |
ind that grass seed sown in barley or rye sets
better, as 1t starts earlier and grows before the
brought comes. ! did not think it well to try |
llfalfa in an orchard, but advice is it takes
Moisture from the trees.
Mr.. George E. Shelley said: 1.-TWO years ago
lined and MANFRED piece of ground, and
lad poor stand of alfalfa. It would be we'll
or US to grow it. if we could get good stand.
)owpeas will give the bacteria. Ground seems
o need bacteria to grow clovers. Ny expert
nee with growing clovers has been like Others.
attribute the loss of clover sets to dry weather
fter harvest, as the sudden change from pro-
ect1on to the suns rays XII 1t. The alsike
lover made the most growth. On seeding it
nut one-third of it to two-thirds of the red
lover"