The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-09-12
AGRICULTURE.
wINTER PASTURES CONTINUED.

WINTER PASTURES CONTINUED.
 My former articles on this subject were confined to grains that could and
 should be grown in winter for both pas- ture and for grain. Now want to no- tice few of the fine grasses and clovers that may also be grown in the winter, or that will grow and furnish fine pas
 ture most of the winter in our southern
 states In fact in many sections the
 winter is the best time for many of
 these grasses
 Red and Sapling clovers.
 There is practically little difference in
 these two clovers except that the man.
 moth grows much larger than our com
 mon or small red clover. Both of these,
 however, may be grown as annuals in
 many sections of the south, and as win
 ter or spring crops for grazing would prove very profitable.
 Most of the soil in all of our south
 ern states needs two elements of plant
 foods in order to make the growing of grasses and clover a success. One of
 these is humus which Is badly needed
 in nearly ali sections of the south. Lime is also badly needed, as nearly all of our
 southern soil Is deficient in lime, or If
 there Is lime it is usually not in an avail able form. There are many sections in the south where there Is an abundance of fine lime stone, but the disintegration IS too SLOW Tn us natural IOrTlif so these rocks should be burned. made into lime, and from thirty to fifty bushels of air
 slacked lime applied per acre. Line however, is not a direct fertilizer, but it has fine mechanical effect upon the soil and sets to action dormant mineral plant foods that may be in the soil,
 and at the same time binds leachy soils
 and loosens and creates tight and heavy
 soils Lime also corrects the acidity that may be in the soil, and this Is an im- portant matter in grass and clover grow ing for but few of these will grow on sour soils
 Red top grass and Alsike clover will
 both come nearer growing on such soils than will any other of the clovers or grasses, and in fact a combination of
 these assisted by lime a top dressing. will take the acidity out of the soil These red clovers mentioned need lime soils and where there is no lime. 1t should be applied.
 | It Is really a question as to what Is the ! best time to SOW seed of these clovers as this depends largely upon local condi- tions. However. it is not safe to SOW too early as our hot summers would kill out the stand
 | If farmers could or would keep their corn fields clean by regular cultivation they could with safety. SOW clover and grass seed in the corn about the last of August or early in September and har- row the seed in with one-horse har- row. passing between the rows, and this would insure a stand.
 | Grain, winter rye, should be sown with the grass seed or on the same land for ! a nurse crop for the clover and grass. A better plan. however, is to use land where crop of COW peas and sorghum hay had been grown. When the hay Is taken off blow the land at once and keep the land well cultivated and har- rowed fine until time for sowing the clover and grass seed. then SOW, and SOW about one-half bushel of rye per acre with the grass seed for a nurse crop. This combination will usually give an abun- dance of fine winter pasture, or if not wanted for pasture, will give a fine crop of hay. For the two clovers named use eight or ten pounds of rood. clean seed per acre.
 Crimson CIovers.
 This Is an annual clover. a great soil | renovator. and at the same time pro- duces a great amount of forage-hay or pa sture This clover is extensively grown in nearly all of our eastern states. and especially so in New Jersey. | Delaware, Maryland and in many of our southern states. This clover may be sown with vetches. winter barley, winter oats or winter rye, and used either for pasture or for hay. A practice common | in Maryland and a good one, in using crimson clover in rotation, Is this: Crimson clover seed Is sown in Septem- Der in the corn fields, the corn Is cut off. the first crop of clover is cut for