The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-21
CLOVER AND GRASSES.


 One of the leading farmers of Central Alabama writes me very complimentary letter on my articles of recent issue re- garding grasses and clovers, and requests that I follow this up with information pertaining to grasses and clovers best suited for Central Alabama conditions. In the consideration of this matter, and in endeavoring to furnish the required information, I wish to state in the be- ginning that there are a few things per taining to the cultivation of grasses and clovers which are necessary for many of our southern farmers to understand and put to practice before they can succeed with these crops on many of their soils. The first thing necessary is that we should know that nearly all of our southern soils are deficient in vegetable matter. This deficiency of humus must be SUD- piled to the soil, this step being necessary for the growing of grasses and clovers, either for hay or pasture
 The old practice or system of shallow blowing that has been In vogue so long in many sections of the south. will not answer for grass growing. for the reason that this system will not allow enough plant food or humus to be turned into the soil. We are likely to have long periods of dry weather during our summer months in the southern states, and 1t is very important that we have our soils well provided with humus for holding water to bridge over this dry period.
 Now the reader can readily see that If we are only scratching the surrace soil, blowing only from two to three inches deep, that under such methods we cannot get much humus into the soil. Besides this, this continued scratching of the sur face soil has left the under soil packed hard, and 1t has become in many cases almost as impervious to moisture as a cement sidewalk. This Is especially true ..s4t. oil al Cni
 Where this system of farming has pre- vailed for years until the soil has been robbed of all available plant food it will require two years of cultivation and prep aration by the growing and turning under of leguminous plants and applying large quantities of barn yard manure before "s should expect it to grow profitable crops. Many farmers fall itno the great error that after soils have become too poor to grow crops of cotton or corn that all that is needed is to SOW them to grass, thinking that grass ought to grow under any and all conditions.
 One of the first steps necessary for the successful growing of cloYers and grasses in the red iron and red clay lands of Central Alabama is to subsoil the land to the depth of from twelve to eighteen inches. This method of subsoling and soil preparation for clovers and grasses has been fully explained in these col-
  with this part of the subject. only to say that our book on clovers and grasses also fully covers this subject and this book will be mailed to anyone for the asking.
 Our southern farmers should also bear in mind another important fact which is. that many of our soils in the south are deficient in lime. and lime is ab- solutely necessary for grass and clover gorwing this deficiency must be supplied before our soils ready to seed to these crops, Farmers frequently make the mistake in concluding that because Of the presence of lime rock on their lands that this indicates that there is a suffi- ciency of lime in their soils for all crops This Is not safe criticism for while thers may be lime rock on the land it may not always be in such a state of decomposition as to furnish the neces- sary amount of lime required for the various crops This subject of lime for clovers and grasses has also been gone over before and Is more fully treated in my book on clovers and grasses re- ferred to above. Now we have a brief ouliine of the needs of our soils, I will proceed to make mention of few va- rietes of clovers and grasses that would be most likely to succeed in Central Alabama, especially so on soils that have been prepared as recommended from time to time In these papers
 Orchard Grass.
 This is the best all round grass that we have today in America. This we would recommend above all others for the red lands of Central Alabama. for both pas ture and hay. Where hay Is. the object. I would recommend the sowing of orchard grass and ammoth clover together as they ripen together and furnish the very
 Mammouth Clover.
 best quality of hay
 Mammoth clover will succeed farther south than will the common red clover and will grow on thinner soils and Is the best to sow for turning under for fertilizing the soil of any other of our clovers. Where clay soils are prepared, fertilized and Timed as outlined above. mammoth clover should prove a great success grown as an annual crop on most sols In Central Alabama.
 Japan Glover.
 Japan clover is one of the most valuable varieties of clovers. and one particularly adapted to the clay soils of the southern states. One mistaken idea that farmers It worthless. creeping plant that can not be made ot grow large enough so as to prove of much value either for nay pr pasture. This opinion comes largely from the fact that this clover has been left to take care of itself in the strug- gle against nexious weeds, briars and brush and on poor soils. Better treat