The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1914-07-16

Ies and Fruit.
of nectar plants in these states is re-
ported as not quite so good as last
year, due partly to late spring and
partly to loss of clover from the
drought in some sections.
An inquiry will be made in July re-
garding honey production, and another
inquiry on the same subject will be
made later in the season. It is hoped
in the meantime to secure the agree
ment of large number of experienced
and up-to-date beekeepers to furnish
reports on the honey crop in order
that the estimates may be approx
mately correct and therefore of real
value to honey producers and others
interested.
Save Crimson Glover Seed.
"Save your home grown crimson
clover seed" is the advice given to
farmers by clover specialists of the
department of agriculture. Glover
seed of the home saved variety in the
since the hull seems to hold little
moisture and thereby reduces the
chance of failure to get a good stand.
Farmers are urged to save thier own
seed.
The clover will soon be ripe and a
few farmers will endeavor to save the
seed in small way by stripping the
heads; by hauling the ripe hay to a
shed and let it lie until slack time,
| bnr will hn hxyh l.
| ing to a scaffold made of boards with
| cracks between, or stretching poultry
| wire over frame and failing the
seeds out, allowing the seeds to fall
through where they can be gathered
up"
The following simple method for
saving crimson clover seed will prove
practical and economical and is recon-
mended by the department.:
After the clover is ripe, select a time
when the sun is likely to shine for sew
eral days, then NOV in the morning,
while the dew is yet on the clover. Let
it lie without being disturbed until the
next noon. Take tarpaulin or large
wagon sheet to the field and spread it
out Pitch the dry clover hay on to It,
stir with forks, shake the seed out and
throw the straw back on the land.
When the seed that are near by are
saved, drag the tarpaulin a little far
Their into the field, repeating the opera
ton until the field is harvested, or suf
f1cient seed is secured for the next
falls sowing. The seed thus secured
can be placed in bags from time to
time.
Probably the most important charac
teristic of crimson clover is it's ability
to grow and make it's crop during the
season when the land is not occupied
by the ordinary summer grown crops
In sections where it succeeds, crimson
clover can be soWn following a grain
crop Or in an intertilled crop in late
summer, and will mature a hay croI
the following spring in time to pillow
the land for Spring seeded crops, such
as corn or cotton
It may even be held for seed as fa1
north as central Delaware and the
stubble be plowed under in time fol
| seeding the understanding strains O.
corn. It may be turned under for sol
improvement when only six inche.
high if it is desired to fit the land fol
, early spring-seeded crops. Even if onl,
the stubble be turned under, the effec
upon the succeeding crop will b,
marked, especially if the soil be def
Gent in heterogeneous fertilizers. Thu
blowing under Of the entire plant, how
7 ever, will more rapidly correct an,
deficiency of nitrates or humus in tn,
soil
1t is one of the best cover crops TO
: use in orchards and, in fact, unde
any conditions where the soil is likel,
V to wash during the winter months TIL
1 many uses to which this crop may b.
, put merit careful study of the bes
Y methods of establishing a stand O
J, crimson clover upon farm.
5 Most of the soils in the crimson Gle
n yer sections will be found to be bene
S fitted by lining Crimson clover, how
q ever. does not appear to require lin
to the extent that red clover does. Ere
g quently on well-drained soils in a goo
: state of fertility the crimson Glove
:, makes vigorous growth without tn
l. use of lime. The stands are, however
d usually more uniformly good over tn
;, lined parts Of such fields than on tn
} parts that have received no lime. TIL
Il opinion among individual farmers a.,
h pears to be about equally divided a
t, to whether or not it pays them to linn
their soils for crimson clover. In co,
e sidering the advisability of applyin
s lime one must not lose sight of tn
L need Of lime on the part of such othe
2, crops as cantaloupes or peaches, whic
Il require lime and which are eithe
n grown with the clover or follow it.
TiIIage or Mulchinq,