Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-03-11
RED CLOVER GROWING
DISCUSSED BY EXPERT
Luther ]. Chaplin, Agent of United
States Department of Agriculture,
Gives Farmers Some Pointers.
CAN BE GROWN IF PROPER
METHODS ARE USED
Last Year Experiments Were Given in
Red Hills, and This Year 1t Will
Be Tried on Wet Lands.
BY LUTHER ]. CHAPLIN.

Salem, Oregon.)
Glover is very rapidly gaining a hold
in this section of the Willamette valley.
Hundreds of acres were seeded last
year on land that had never before
grown a crop of clover and the almost
universal success of these seedlings will
insure thousands of acres this year.
The value of the crop as money
crop and its Importance in proper
crop rotation are quite generally recog-
nized. The only reason why it has
not been more generally grown is that
it was believed that it could not be
grown in certain sections. Last year
demonstration plots have proven, how
ever, that clover can be grown in the
red hills if proper cultural methods
are practiced.
A considerable amount Of time was
given last year by the writer to clover
culture. The greater part of this time
was devoted to red clover in the red
hills. This year special attention will
also be given to alsiko clover on The
white wet lands. The following genera
cultural methods should be observed in
seeding red clover.
l. The soil should be properly
drained. A soil that is water logged
is not suitable home for red clover,
Q. The soil should be we'll manured
This is important to improve the ply
steal condition of the soil and to IN.
sure good bacterial action.
8. The soil should be plowed at least
eight inches deep. Ten or twelve would
be better, provided the land has ever
before been plowed deep. Not more
than two inches of fresh subsoil, how
ever, should be turned up at one time
4. The soil should be lined. Nearly,
if not quite all of the soil in this valley
is more or less acid. This is especially
true of the hill lands. From 1 - to 8
tons of hydrated lime stone per acre
should be spread broadcast and har-
rowed into the surface soil after it is
plowed. As little as y ton per acre
of hydrated lime has proven beneficial
5. The sail should be inocuated with
clover bacteria. From 200 to 400 pounds
per acre of soil taken from an old
clover field should be spread over the
field and narrowed in at the time Of
seeding This soil should be taken
from the surface foot afterremoving
the first two inches. Good catches
were secured last year, however, il
many cases without this inoculation.
6. Drill the seed in if possible. This
will insure an even covering Of all ot
the seed at the proper depth. One
half inch is sufficient and In no cas-,
should it be covered more than il!
inches.
T. Roll the land well after seeding
with corrugated roller if such a role
is available. If smooth roller is used
a light harrow with the teeth slantet
back should follow.
Time Of Seeding.
On land where clover has not beei
grown it may be necessary to seed tn
clover alone, that is, without nurs
crop. In such cases the land shoul,
be prepared as easrly in spring as pos
sible and worked occasionally with
spring tooth harrow until May or Jun
when the clover should be seeded. Tn
occasional working before seeding wi
destroy the weeds and help to hold tn
moisture. A firm seed.bed will ais
he insured.
Glover may also be seeded in fal
sown grain. Good stands are frequentl
seen secured by seeding broadcast !
February on the surface Of the groun
but it is safer to follow the seeding wit
n borrn1v or ro1ler This will ingut