Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1907-11-14
Red CLOVER.

choice hay we're produced Id the
Eastern States. the chief mixture
being timothy and red clover. The
method Of growing this combination
Of hay was TO SOW thetimoshy in the
fall with the wheat crop and the red
clover was sown Ia the same Geld as
early IL thespring as possible: some
times being scattered on the melt.
ing snow or on the frozen ground.
The timothy became well establish
ed 10 the fall and The red clover
made q very good growth ID the fol,
lowing spring. Then as soon a. the
wheat crop was removed, the limo.
thy and clover was given full pos
session Of the land and the second
year al excellent crop of the most
desirable hay was harvested. This
mixture 81 hay brought very high
price and was sought after eagerly
BY liverymen. Good crops we're
raised, times we're prosperous. aud
the farmers thought that about al
that was necessary was to SOW aud
reap. Very little Ur no attention
was given to the maintenance al the
soils fertility and this marked he.
glect soon began 10 show 10 raduc.
ed crops. From personal observa
ton and from reformation received
from many iarfners. II i ovfdeni
that the yield Of wheat per acre has
been greatly increased Ii recent
years many farmers now producing
from two 10 ten tinea as much WHEAT
as formerly on the same arcaoiland.
AS time vent on aud from iniudl.
cious methods Of agriculture aud
poor soil management II became.
practically impossible 10 longer grow
red clover and ID the last decade
thousands 81 dollars have boon paid
for clover seed with absolutely no
returns whatever. This has dis.
heartened many farmers and as red
clover was almost the only legume
Id their rotation until recently, they
could plainly see their soils decreas-
ing ia productive power. May
still continued 70 plant red clover
In the old fashioned way only 10 see
their efforts result In failure. while
others discontinued its use, claim.
ing their lands we're clover sick
and no longer suited 10 its growth.
Red clover. when planted In the
early spring, would make good
catch and 10 most cases appear 10
be doing we'll. but as soon as the
wheat was removed the clover would
quickly die down aud disappear.
This led the writer Ia make 4 spe-
cial study of this Important problem
and y was soon found that the trou-
bio was chiefly due q poor soil con
ditions, and ia order 10 come ever
these conditions. ii would b. neeos.
sary for The farmer to change bis pfac
tice to meet the change Ia sol coudI-
tions which have taken place from
careless methods. II is very eyi
dent that climate aud soil conditions
have changed and there has arisen
4 toxic accumulation 70 the soil,
perhaps largely Of 40 acid nature,
which must be overcome before red
clover can be successfully grown.
Let us see what change has &c
CURED In tho soil III ibis time.
Years ago The soil was nearer its
virgin state and the yield oF wheat
per acre was much less This gave
o much more favorable chanoe for
the clover 10 breome well establish.
cd and ableio take care of itself AZ
tor the wheat was rfnoved Tho
light stand 81 wheat did not shade
the ground So eompIetely and the
readily available moisture and plant
food vas not snched out 10 such an
extent that the clover could not AZ.
cure enough to bridge is over tho
approaching hot weather also com.
mercial fertilizers bad not been used
so ok ensivelg As 10 be 81 my mater.
ial assistance IN the accumulation 81
acid couditiogs 4 has been found
that q producing one bu6bel 81 |
wbeai 60 cents worth Of fertility il |
removed from the son and heavy |
crop q wheat With the preparation |
Of theIsoil for II, will consume about
1900 rounds 81 humps pcr ACRE. and /
fields under its continuous eultiva. /
tlou become lighter ID c5Ior and