The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-07-19
VALUE OF CRIMSON CLOVER.
How Mr.. c. w. JOsey Of st. Charles,
=. G. Produced 1I8 IL Bushels of
Corn OH One Acre mt a Cost of
28 1-2 Cents Per Bushel.

In the year 1910 during month of
December applied liberal amount of
barnyard manure lin spring of 1911
planted to corn and peas, during
month of October 1911 planted to
Crimson clover 90 lbs. seed per acre,
after soil had been inoculated with
soil from plot on which Crimson
clover had been successfully grown.
In Spring, May 1st. Of 1912, turned
crop of Crimson clover under and
prepared land thoroughly. and plant
ed to corn, 3 1-2 feet by IL inches in
drill. All fertilizer applied by side
application, and consisted of the fol-
lowing: 40 bushels of cotton seed,
500 lbs. nitrate of soda, SO lbs. pot
ash; soda was applied as follows;
800 lbs. at laying by. 200 lbs. when
corn was In full silk and tassel. Corn
was cultivated up to July 1st. This
plot produced 11S 1-2 bushels Of corn
at cost of 2S 1-2 cents per bushel.
After the crop was harvested the
plot was again planted to Crimson
clover and he harvested from the plot
In the spring of 1913 three and q half
two horse loads of splendidly cured
Criinson clover hay. 1t will thus be
seen that by the proper use of clover
as winter cover crop that the cost
of production can be reduced to such
an extent IS that the margin of pro-
fit can easily be made very attractive.
Mr.. Josey is progressive I'm his
ideas of what may be accomplished
by proper methods being put
into practice on our farms. Just
few years ago the acre of land de-
scribcd above would make from one
fourth to onethird bale of cotton per
acre; now he has 1t planted to cotton
In five feet rows and has every reason
to expect thae cotton to cover the
entire ground because the land Is in
high state OF fertility on account Of
the deposits of nitrogen from the air
by the Crimson clover which plant is
winter lesume and does for the soil
during the winter months what the
cew pea does during the summer
months.
Other farmers who have SUCCESS
fully grown either Crimson or Burr
clover are DR.. A. C.. Baskin, Mr.. w.
A. Stuckey, Mr. r. NJ. Cooper, l.. l..
Baker. and quite a number of our
farmers have grown successful plots
OF vetch with oats. These planted
together yield one of the best hay
crops we know OF and may be har-
vested In the spring from two to three
weeks before the oat crop is ready.
Vetch, besides being a splendid
plant for hay is also a winter legnme
and Is therefore a fine soil builder.
venture to say that If every farmer
in Lee County would plant one acre
OF vetch with oats. to each horse he
keeps. after carefully preparing and
fertilizing the land with stable or
barnyard manure and proper inocu-
lation of the soil, that hay from other
states would cease being shipped into
Lee county. Let us hope that as
rapidly as possible our farmers will
begin the use of vetch with oats, and
the clovers as winter cover crop and
soil builders. and also as hay for the
early spring, thereby relieving our
selves Of the necessity of buying hay
and at the same time filling our land
with humus and furnishing the
foundation for the profitable use of
such commercial fertilizers as we
would need under conditions. for af.
ter land has been brought up by the
use or leguminous crops. the most
expensive ingredient which enters in
to the composition OF our fertilizers,
ammonia or nitrogen, may be prac-
tically eliminated.
S. n. Welch,
Dem. Agent.
Bishopville Vindicator.