The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-06-30

VI nay 10 yield an average of s2S o.
worth of nitrogen per acre at current
prices in mixed commercial fertilizers
Oh TWO plats fertiized with the same
quantities of phosphoric acid and not
ASH, but the ore having grown a crop
ot Dur clover and the other having
been fertiized with l20 pounds OF
ccttonseed meal, the bur clover plot
gave at the rate of 400 pounds more
SEED cotton per acre. At cents 6
pound for seed cotton this would give
ar increased profit of SIC per acre.
The increased cost of picking. etc.
would be covered by the 12O pounds
or cottonseed meal used on the other
plot, which would leave a net profit
or SIS for the crop of bur clover.
That heavy crop of bur clover
was grown is shown by the fact that
nearly three tons of hay were obtain
ed as an average of two years trials
on this farm, but half that growth
would yield profit sufficient to more
than justify the use of this plant as
a winter cover crop on the cotton
field.
Value as q Pasture Crop and as Win
ter Cover.
It's chief value as a patsure crop
Is In the fact that 1t affords pasture
during February and March when
there is scarcity Of green feed.
While IL Is legume, and rich in pro-.
tein, 1t Is not readily eaten by stock
except when other more palatable
green feed Is not obtainable.
1t grows on a great variety of soils
and will, under proper conditions,
probably do well practically through
out our entire territory.
Bur clover may be sown at the last
working Of the corn cr cotton crop.
In fact, that Is probably the best time
to SOW 1t II seed in the bur is used in
stead Of clean seed. 1t takes the burs
some time to rot and unless sown In
July or August stand is not so GER
tain. II clean seed are used, later
sowning may be advisable.
The seed may be sown broadcast
and lightly covered with a cultivator
at the last working. When lever cul-
tivation is pr,lcticed this will be found
satisfactory, but IL the turn plow is
used in cultivating. the seed may be
covered too deeply unless very large
quantity Is used.
incubation.
After the seed burs ripen they fall
to the ground and are usually swept
UT In gathering the seed. In this way
more or less soil and trash are gath
cred with the seed burs and sufficient
of the germs or bacteria usually ad-
here to the burs to inoculate q fresh
soil IL liberal quantity of seed be
used-abOut two bushels to the acre.
If clean seed are used, 1t will be nee
essary to inoculate the soil in some
way If bur clover has not been recent
ly grown successfully on this soil, and
the most satisfactory way to inoculate
-as for any of the legumes-is to
obtain a few hundred pounds of SOIL
fer each acre, from a field that has
pr oduced a good crop of this clover.
Even with the seed sown in the burs,
complete and satisfactory inOculatiOl
t. not usual the first year. but the sec
ord year it usually becomes sufficient
1t is usually claimed tha. soil taat has
grown alfalfa or melilotus successful
y is inoculated for bur clover
Many failures to obtain a stand Of
this plant are recorded and I'm the
Opinlor Of the writer they ara most
of;en due to sowing too late wheA
The seed are In the burI and to the
| ,uc'i ca inoculGtion.
Follow Bur Glover With Corn.
There is probably no winter cover
| be obtained in time To prepare the
| land again for cotton. For this rea-
son, rs we'll as for many others. some
other crop should follow the cotton
and bur clover.
If corn be planted after the bun
| cover, ample time exists for the rip
ening of the clover. the proper prep
aratlon of the land and growth of the
corn crop. As soon as enough of the
bur clover has rpened to insure re-
seeding of the land-May 1 to 20
th hand siou'' 10 wcV hrokcr. thor
oushl narrowed ami the coru plant.
ed We advise our readers who ar,
thinking of trying bur clover for the