The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-08-13


tie. We have advised the growing of
crimson clover, and many Of our cor
respondents have done the same ,and
it matters not under what conditions
We have advised it, or how far the
men who have failed to succeed with
it came from following instructions,
we must accept all criticism given by
those who have not succeeded in
growing the crop. In most cases the
| failure Is probably due to those SOW
ing it failing to follow our advice
| about the time of sowing. preparing
| the land, inoculating the soil, or in
some other essential feature. Those
| who have failed on more than an
| acre certainly have not followed our
advice, for we have repeatedly urged
| the folly Of sowing a larger area un-
| til it has been grown successfully on
| small area. The value Of this ad-
vice is two-fold. 1) If this advice
Is followed the heavy expense of a
large failure is avoided and, (2) If
success is made on a small area,
| abundant material for inoculating
| other parts Of the farm is secured.
But we are willing to accept the
criticism which usually come with
the best of good humor; for many
| valuable lessons have been taught,
,hcto NJ oil
wards the more extensive introduce
| ton of this splendid winter !egUmc
We have stated that we believed j.
would grow almost anywhere H. tne
South, when properly put III and
the soil we'll inoculated. 1t ls simply
| a question Of getting a stand of
strog, well-rooted plants before cold
weather comes and proper inocula-
| ton of the soil. These conditions
but when once they exist success is
practically assured.
Soil Conditions.
1t is generally known that most
legumes do better on soils containing
| considerable lime, and some of them
positively refuse to make satisfactory
growth except on what are popularity
called lime soils. 1t has even been
suggested that the frequent failures
with crimson clover are largely due
to a lack of lime in the soil. This
seems to us very improbable, for we
have seen splendid crops of it on the
Coastal Plain sandy lands of North
Carolina, where there is certainly
little lime, and also on soils in Missis-
sippi and Alabama which are defici-
ent in carbonate of lime. 1t may be
more easy to obtain the necessary in
oculation on lime soils, but we be-
lieve crimson clover may be success
fully grown on almost any Southern
soil that is sufficiently we'll drained
to grow the common crops and is not
positively sour. Like most other
| crops, it will do best on rich soil.
Time to Sow.
One of the chief obstacles to the
| extensive growth of crimson clover is
| the uncertainty of getting a stand of
vigorous plants. This difficulty,
granting the soil is inoculated, is
probably most due to the dry weather
during the fall, so characteristic of
the Cotton Belt Early, say in July
| and August, there is sufficient moist
ure to bring up the plants, but if
hot, dry weather follows they may
die. They are more likely to die If
the soil is not properly inoculated
but even when the soil is known to
be inoculated, stand is frequently
| lost If August and September are un-
usually hot and dry. On the other
, hand, if the sowing be put off until
late in the fall there may not be suf-
ficient moisture to bring up the plants
and enable them to make the neces-
sary growth to withstand the early
winter freezes. Too late planting, or
too early planting is, therefore, rath-
er risky; but there Is no time when
dlthculties may not be encountered
The latter part of September and the
first half Of October would seem the
most favorable season, if there he
sufficient moisture in the ground. In
soils we'll supplied with humus and
| properly prepared, such moisture will
usually exist, but this is not always
| the case.
| Preparation of the Soil
A freshly prepared soil is best, but
the crop Is probably of most value
as winter cover for cotton lands.
| The soil Is in best condition in the