Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-09-28
PART L.

Thsre l. much diversity of opinion as
20 the utility OF crimson clover for Gov
er crop IN the cotton states All are
agreed that cover crops are essential to
aid IN the conservation Of the soil which
has now become a universal problem
with the farmers of the south Since the
number Of leguminous crops that may
Re grown successfully during the winter
Il limited at best. it Is well % look into
the situation and ascertain Just what the
status OF crimson clover may be. ano I'M
der what conditions IL can best be used
for TIE end in view.
To secure some data which might be
REGARDED as fairly reliable and accurate
= number OF plats were seeded 10 this
crop IN the college demonstration field
last autumn The seedlings were made on
September and = respectively, and the
two varieties OF crimson clover more
or less commonly grown were used For
the information OF those who may not be
as familiar with this crop as is desirable,
let me explain that there is a variety
which has a crimson bloom. which has
given rise 70 the name OF this clover.
There is also q variety quite similar in
al respects 70 the crimson except for
the fact that the bloom Is practically
white There seems to be some differ
ence in these varieties as shown by the
data presented later on. OF course. In a
single years test but little definite in
formation can be secured. for soil and
climatic conditions determine in large
measure. according 20 our observation.
what may be expected from this crop.
There Is probably nothing grown by the
farmer which Is more highly appreciated
by re few and more generally condemn
ed b. many than crimson clover: yet we
are constrained to feel that much OF the
condemnation Is unjust. and Is due 70 the
result OF improper management on the
part OF the planter. Certain It is that
all the blame for the repeated failures
and the indifference with which crimson
clover Is regarded by many are not to be
attributed TO the unreliabliity OF the
crop. II IS equally certain that one who
succeeds with crimson clover and raises
a fine crop Of hay therefrom OF improves
bis soil materially by turning II under
viii be delighted with the results and
win be willing TO make many sacrifices
to grow II thereafter on his farm
The two varieties Of clover already
mentioned were seeded on comparatively
hard ground: that is. ground which had
simply been narrower before planting.
They were also seeded on ground well
cultivated before seeding on the two
dates already mentioned The seed was
scattered broadcast on the land at the
rate OF : pounds per acre and was COW
cred lightly with a harrow. The land
was in fairly good tilth~put the weather
had been very dry sometime previous to
seeding and continued so until the 9th OF
the month. The land used for this test
was red clay upland and similar in char
acter and degree OF fertility to that
found on thousands of farms in the state
No fertilizer was used under this crop.
Much greater yields were obtained from
seeding on September Is This was due
In large measure TO the ract that rain
fell just previous TO seeding these plats
and the growing conditions were much
more favorable than on September g.
Ordinarily we think that the early seed
ing would be preferable. OF course. the
time OF seeding a fall cover crop will be
determined almost altogether by climatic
and SON conditions. Our experience with
crimson clover. extending over a period
Of 10 years. indicates that in most in
Etsnces early seeding has gwen better
results than later seeding. and by early
seeding we mean any time from the end
OF August 10 the first OF October. After
that II win sometimes do nicely and give
as good. II not better results than when
sown in September. but IN many in
stances the plants have been frozen out
before they make a strong enough devel-
r
They are more inclined TO freeze out OF
course. on land that is not well drained.
and later seeding can always be done or
soil that has been made rich by the use
OF farmysrd manure or commercial fer
tilizers. and naturally. the more perfect
the land Is prepared the better the cnanc-
IS OF success with both early and late
seeding.
In these experiments the ground receiv-
ed the most ordinarily preparation. This
was done advisedly because the desire
Vas 70 see what results might be antic-
fpated with clover on land on which
large amount Of labor was not expended
n preparing the seed bed. The question
in other words. was % ascertain under
what conditions one might hope to sue.
coed with this crop. for Il is already IN
derstood that where favorable conditions
are provided success will almost certain
- follow.
yield OF 1870 pounds OF cured hav per
acre was obtained with both the white
blooming and crimson blooming seeded
September sth on unbroken ground.
yield OF SIS pounds was obtained with
the crimson blooming and 500 pounds
with the white blooming when seeded Sep
temher sth on land cultivated and well
prepared before seeding. When these two
varieties were seeded on September 18th
on ground simply prepared with a harrow
the yield with the crimson variety was
l.7125 pounds. and with the white vari-
ETY. 3sS15 pounds When seeded Septen-
Der Sth on well cultivated land. the GRIM
son variety yielded ss7-5 pounds and the