Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-12-24

sosssSs USsU0 SVtokSvOey Sa00ot N pSOs
teaA and mineral matter than any Of
the other common asll crops. with TN
exception Of Alfalfa ana some Of the
other legumes, to which class Il be.
longs. The seed value Of the crop II
relatively large. 4 Yield Of two good
crops OF red clover Is secured IN one
year, and In some cases three crops. In
almost all cases the third crop OF
growth for the season a1ords valuable
pasturage for several weeks or months
IN late season.
As general rule. those farmers who
encourage clover and crow the CROP
regularly on their land are more pros
peous than those who do not grow this
lesume. Clover on q farm u a fairly
good index to the farms productive
ness and tho farmers thrift.
Counting the hay. seed and forage
crops. the yield of clover during the
growing season 10 large. The sec
ond. or seed. crop may be harvested
and used for hay for cattle II desired
yet 1t \is not considered a good feed
for horses. Where clover 10 started In
the spring, with wheat or oats as q
nurse crop, with favorable moist
summer and late season. q right good
cutting may be made the same season
several weeks after the nurse crop haa
been harvested. This crop 10 known Al
'stubble clover which, tho often
trashy. il excellent hay for a variety OF
livestock.
1t 10 known generally all over the
world IN advanced agricultural sections
that clover IL one of the best Of fer
tili1ing crops. 1t supplies actual plant
foods to the soil. mainly nitrates. II
improves he texture and physical con-
dition Of tho soil. and the long roots
and stubble in decay add important
humus- forming material When a
heavy growth is plowed under as q
green manure. which Is often DONE its
fertilizins value to the land is very
great. The plant is a biennial. running
out after the end Of the second year
II. however. may grow and thrive In
the same field for a longer period than
two years by allowing the seed crop to
ripen and stand on the ground at the
close Of the second year. This seed
crop may be pastured when ripe in the
fall Of the second years growth. when
the stock will derive much feed value
from 1t and at the same time tramp
the rfpened seed into the soil for a new
seeding and q new crop. II . seed crop
is plowed under az a soil fertilizer. the
stems and leaves will decay in the soil.
while a large part, or all. Of the seed
Will remain vital for several years,
When the field is again plowed and the
seed turned up to the surface. 1t will
terminate and rsseed the field to
clover. In straight grain and clover ro-
tation fields may always be reseeded
in this way. altho q cultivated crop will
kill out the plants.
Bacteria-bearing noduies form on
clover roots. Thru these In some mys-
FERROUS way the clover plant has the
power Of securing free nitrogen from
the air and fixing 1t In the soil as nj
trates. essential soil compounds. AL
tho the crop Of necessity must take
some plant foods from the soil in
growth, II feeds the soil while II grows.
Its roots are thick and long. They
penetrate the soil deeply and open
spaces for the admission Of air and
water, thus directly and indirectly
improving the soils chemical and
physical nature. The practical farmer
"builds up his land with clover" There
is no better crop for rejuvenating worn
soils.
The requirements for standard red
clover are humus. absence Of acid and
bacteria OF the right kind In the soil.
ut Is almost useless to attempt to Sc
cure q stand OF clover on land void
Of organic matter. II the soil contains
only q small amount OF hunus. plow
under q dead crop Of vegetation OF
some kind. Coating the land with
stable manure 10 still better. a. the
decomposing manure contains oac-
terra for incubation. which must al
ways be furnished In some way. NO
doubt all clover seed holds some oac-
terra for incubation. yet generally not