Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1909-07-01
CLIPPING THE CLOVER.
Progressive Farmers Beginning to
Adopt University Recommendation
MAY Become General Custom and
Greatly Enrich The Soil.

Illinois are beginning new thing for
enrichjng the soil, the early clipping
of the clover to return to the ground
as green manure. This is specially
recommended by DR.. Hopkins of the
university. The matter has been COM
mented upon at length by Editor J.
H. Hackett, of 'The Farm" Jackson
vile, who is large land owner and
who said edltorially in mis- issue Of
.'Sne 3: "As IN evidence of the faith
We have in that which We advocate,
cur clover Was clipped this week. A
part of the same field was moved off
ear)y last fall and let on the ground
The rag weed, the clover and other
grasses have partly decayad. put the
major part will remain undecayed un-
til plowed under, which will probably
be this fall, giving time for decay,
and be ready to boost the corn along
the next two or three years.
For Nitrogen and Organic Matter.
We need more organic matter in
the ground, and in particular we must
replenish the nitrogen content of the
soil, and there seems no more practi-
cal and economical way of doing these
things than to thus return the first
cutting of the clover to the land. This
method has been very carefully con-
sidered and it is likely that it may
come into general use among the pro-
eressive farmers of the state who
realize their actual soil problem and
consider the best means of meeting
the demands of the land.
Recent Custom at the University.
The same issue of 'tThe Farm con.
tains the following letter from w. G.
Eckhardt, Of the soils department at
the university:
ut has only been a few years ago
that the experiment station has been
cutting the first crop of clover and
leaving it lay upon the land, then
planning to cut the second crop of
clover for seed. There is every indi-
cation that this is going to be one OF
the most profitable ways of handling
Clover, especially where one is doing
grain farming, l was at the Gales
burg experimental field on May 20,
and where we cut the clover last year
and left it lay upon the land, where
rock phosphate had been applied, there
is more than double the growth of
vegetation this year. A very remark
able increase was also given in the
corn last year.
Only Source Of Nitrogen.
1T seems to me, when you consider
the expense of putting up the hay
crop, with the risk incurred and the
profit that can be made from it, in
the end it will be far terrer to leave
the clover on the land. This, at any
rat, is going to be the only way W;
can possibly maintain the nitrogen OF
our soils. and unless it is left on the
land, then it is surely going to be
necessary to return everything in the
form of manure, and know of no way
in which it will be possible to per
manently maintain the nitrogen con
tent of the soil, even if all the feeds
are fed, where the hay is removed
each year."
Worth Thinking About.
1t is not often that distinct new
departure is taken up in practica
agriculture, and especially one thai
seems to meet the scientific require
ments after an extensive investigation
of the conditions and need. So this
clipping of the clover and investing
it in the next years corn crop in
stead of making hay Of it, is a thinS
too seriously consider and discuss i1
all it's features. The Sheaf has al
different times clearly set forth wha
DR.. Hopkins says in his conclusion:
as to what is necessary to permanent
ly maintain the soil.