The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-07-01
CLOVER VAL LIABLE
AS A FERTILIZER
Universally Considered Great
Soil Improver, Says
Conner.
DON'T SELL THE CROP
Purdue Man Advises That
Clover Hay Be Fed
to Animals.

Red clover" says Mr. S. D. Conner
or the Soils and Crops department.
Purdue Experiment Station, lis uni
Versally considered a great soil improv-
er, yet, there are great many errone-
GUS ideas as to just how the improve
ment Is produced. 1t is very we'll I'M
derstood that the roots of the clover
plant when it is growing properly, con-
tain nodules which are the home of
kind of bacteria that are able to ex-
tract nitrogen from the air and fix it
so the plant can get it. Because the
bacteria live in the nodules on the
roots does not mean that the roots con-
tain the bulk of the nitrogen which
has been gathered. In fact, the
nitrogen is used by the growing
plant as rapidly as it is fixed and the
mature crop of red clover has it's nitro
gen distributed in about the proportion
of one-third in the roots and stubble
and two-thirds in the tops. The min
erals and total organic matter of the
crop are also divided in about the same
proportion. Hence it will be seen that
if a farmer plows under only the roots
and stubble of the clover crop, he is
getting only fraction of the fertility
of the crop. Some good authorities
even go so far as to state that he is not
adding any nitrogen to the soil and of
course he is depicting it of mineral
plant food. This statement is doubt
less true in some cases and is explain
ed when we understand that the clover
gets all of its minerals and at least a
part Of it's nitrogen from the soil. 1t is
difficult to tell just what proportion OF
the nitrogen of the clover is taken
from the soil, but there is no doubt
that in some cases it may be more
than one-third. This depends upon the
condition of the soil and the degree of
incubation.
Condition Of Soil.
Clover does better and extracts a
greater percent of it's nitrogen from
the air when it Is well supplied with
mineral plant foods, lime and organic
matter. Good physical condition of
the soil is also very necessary, as ideal
moisture conditions and proper cara
ton can be obtained only with good
soil texture.
1t should not be forgotten that the
bulk of the value of crop of clover is
in the hay. This is fact that is not
generally known. One ton of clover
hay contains approximately forty
forty pounds of nitrogen, eleven
pounds of potash. It's fortified value
is at least $500 per ton. In this day
when many are finding it profitable
o;o1 hN
man who sells his clover hay at few
dollars ton is very foolish.
Contains Plant Food.
If the clover hay can be fed to ami
mails so much the better, but under no
ordinary condition should the clover
hay be sold off the farm. If it cannot
be fed to stock it should be clipped
and left to enrich the SOIL The first
Fcrop of clover contains the bulk Of
the plant food. The second crop does
not contain nearly as great a tonnage,
and being cut for seed the chaff is
generally returned to the soil, the seed
only being sold. AS clover seed has a
plant food value of about thirty-five
cents bushel. one need have no hest
fancy in selling it, as the price is high
enough to justify such practice.
Allow Crop to Stand.
Another point in connection with
the use of clover as a soil improver is
that the crop should be allowed to
stand until a good growth has been
made. Soil Improvement is a slow
process under any conditions and I'M
less the crop of clover has time to