Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-09-17
EXPERT ON CLOVER.
Mr.. A. G. Smith Gives Some Interest
ina information.

ing Information.
people Of South Carolina are only
making about one e-seventh the amount
Of crops on their farms as are the
northern farmers said Mr.. A. G.
Smith of the United States department
Of agriculture, office Of farm manage
ment who was in Union recently
when speaking to Progress repre-
sentative.
The thing for the southern farmers
to begin to realize is that they must
grow more winter cover crops, in other
words must revolutionize or at least
evolutionize their methods. The winter
cover crop which seems to be most
practical in this section Of the country
is crimson clover. Crimson clover Is
an especially valuable crop as 1t not
only Is a winter cover crop but 1t takes
the nitrogen from the air and puts 1t
into the soil, having the same effect
on the land as the cow pea. 1t works,
however, through the fall, winter and
spring, while the cow pea only works
through the summer. 1t also prevents
washing away of the top soil which Is
very essential on the hill sides of the
country and the washing will be re-
duced to practically a minimum in the
winter. Crimson clover also absorbS a
certain amount of the fertilizer that
the cotton or other plants will not take
up. A ton of crimson clover turned
under is equal to four tons of barn
yard manure, besides it is a very val
liable forage crop. A ton Of crimson
clover will bring ammonia into the soil
which one will have to pay from seven
to eight dollars for in nitrate Of sod,
Mr.. Smith continuing said: Fifteen
pounds of seed should be sown per
acre, about the latter part Of Septem-
GER or first Of October and unless tn
land has grown crimson clover sue
cessfully before it should be well pre-
pared and the soil from other fields
where crimson clover had been sowed
should be applied to the land so as
to inoculate it.
THE following directions will be
found to be a good guide for the man
who has not yet grown crimson clover
successfully heretofore, but If he has
grown crimson clover on the land be-
fore, the land most probably is already
inoculated and the using Of lime and
the soil for incubation will not be
necessary.
"Plow and thoroughly pulverize the
soil.
Apply all barnyard manure possi-
BILE up to ten loads per acre, diskins
in Immediately after spreading so as
to prevent drying.
Apply per acre:
1900 TBS. air Stacked lime.
"125 TBS. acid phosphate or basic
Stag.
"125 TBS. cotton seed meal.
"125 TBS. kainit or 35 TBS. muriate
of potash.
Work the lime and fertilizer well
into the soil.
Just before sowing the SEED, apply
some soil from a field where crimson
clover has previously been successful
ly grown, and work we'll into the soil
Immediately after scattering"
Mr.. Smith has an office in the state
house at Columbia and is spending all
his time in the state just now making
a speciality Of helping the farmers to
grow crimson clover, bur clover, red
any one directions for planting any OF
these crops who asks for them, tell
ing where to secure the seed, all the
material necessary for planting and
each step in preparing and fertilizing
the land.-Union Progress.