The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-10-06
EXPERT ON CLOVER.
MIR. A. G. Smith Gives Some Interest
ing Information.

MIR. A. G. Smith Gives Some Interest
ing Information.
People Of South Carolina are only
making about one-seventh the
amount of crops on their farms as
are the northern farmers" said Mr..
A. G.. Smith of the United States de-
partment of agriculture, office of
farm management, who was in Union
recently, when speaking to a Prog
ress representative.
The thing for the Southern farm
ers 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 val
liable crop as 1t not only is a winter
cover crop but it takes the nitrogen
from the air and puts it 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 reduced to practically a. minimum
in the winter. Crimson clover also
absorbs certain amount Of the fer
tilizer that the cotton or other plants
will not take up. A ton of crimson
clover turned under Is equal to four
tons Of barnyard manure, besides it
Is very veluable forage crop.
ton of crimson clover will bring am
monia into the soil which one will
have to pay from seven to eight dol
lars for in nitrate of soda.
Mr.. Smith continuing said: Fiji
teen pounds Of seed should be sown
per acre, about the latter part of Sep
tember or first of October and unless
the land has grown crimson clover
successfully before 1t should be we'll
prepared and the soil from other
fields where crimson clover had been
sowed should be applied to the land
so as to inoculate 1t.
1.-The following directions will bc
found to be good guide for the man
who has not yet grown crimson clov-
er successfully heretofore, but If he
has grown crimson clover OH the land
before, the land most probably is al
ready inoculated and the using of
lime and the soil for incubation will
not be nece ssary.
"Plow and thoroughly pulverize
the soil.
apply all baanyard manure possi-
BILE up to ten loads per acre, disking
in Immediately after spreading so as
to prevent drying.
apply per acre:
l. 1900 lbs. air Stacked lime.
"125 lbs. acid phosphate or basic
Stag.
1925 lbs. cotton seed meal.
"125 lbs. kainit or 35 lbs. muriate
of potash.
Work the lime and fertilizer well
into the soil.
Just before sowing the seed, ap-
ply some soil from field where GRIM
son clover has previously been sue
cessfully 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 specially of helping the
farmers to grow crimson clover, burr
| clover, red clover, alfalfa and vetch.
He will send any one directions for
planting any Of these crops who asks
for them, telling where to secure the
seed. all the material necessary for
planting and each step in preparing
and fertilizing the land.-Union Prog
| ress.