The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1916-03-24

the most important are good supply
of lime and phosphates. There are, it
is true, conditions under which clover
thrives on acid soils. These conditions
are not yet fully understood, but they
appear to be related to cool summers
and plenty of moisture, which can not
be expected in most of the clover belt.
1t is not always easy to tell when a
soil has enough lime. There are sew
eral methods for testing the "lime re-
quirement" of soils; but for practical
purposes, this may be roughly determ-
ined by the kind of plants growing on
the land. If trouble has been exper-
fenced with red clover but if fair
growth of timothy and of alsike clover
can be gotten, the land probably needs
some lime, say 1000 pounds of ground
limestone per acre; if timothy and al
sike clover are crowded out by redtop
or if such weeds as sorrel are abund-
ant the land needs plenty of lime, al
least ton of ground limestone to the
acre, and probably more. While the
functions of lime both in the soil and
in the plant are rot thoroughly under
stood, we can confidently say that the
clover plant is healthier when there is
plenty Of lime than when the soil is
sour, and being healthier the young
plants will Withstand dry spell better,
and the old plants will come through
the winter better than plants growing
on sour soil. To sow red clover seed
on so-called acid soils is usually to
waste time and money.
The addition of phosphates has also
been found to be very beneficial, but
here again there is no way to tell how
much is needed without trying. If
clover has not done we'll on farm,
the need Of lime or phosphorus, or per-
haps both. is indicated, and the farmer
would do well to buy bag or two of
ground bone or of superphosphate and
a ton of fine ground limestone and ap-
ply separately or in combination to a
part of the field The growth of the
clover during the following season will
tell the story OF the needs of his soil.
The bone meal and phosphate may be
applied at the rate of 200 or 800 pounds
per acre. OF course, if there is time
and opportunity it will be we'll worth
while to try different rates of applica-
ton so as to find what rate will give
best returns at smallest expense. On
sandy soils potash may also be need
ed. For the healthy growth of the
clover plant, then, lime, phosphorus,
and potash must be present; the pres
ence OF nitrogen is of minor import
ince, though, of course, the young
plants will do better if nitrates are
available. If clover has not been on
The land for many years it will be
wise to scatter dirt from a clover field
or to inoculate the seed with the nitro
gen germ. When this is present the
lover plant can draw on the nitrogen
If the air.
Value of Humus.
The Mechanical condition of the soil
must be good. A soil that becomes
lard, excluding the air from the roots.
viii not grow good clover. Lime will
1elp loosen up such a soil, but decay
ng vegetable matter or humus is the
greatest need OF such land. This can
)e furnished in stable manure or by
urning under other crops that are
lot as sensitive as is clover. A soil
without humus will dry more readily
han one with plenty of vegetable mat
er and in dry season this fact may
'e all important to the young plants.
Most OF our partly run down soils
rave lost much OF the organic matter
hey had originally. The growing of
wheat and corn uses up the soil hu-
nus at a rapid rate, and so the time
ZONES when a severe drought de-
troys the plants on a soil that does
lot hold the moisture to the extent
hat it formerly did. Then the plants
lie, and the farmer blames the dry
While it is true that a Sc
ere dry spell may kill all vegetation,
wen when the soil is in good condi-
ION, it is just as true that clover
'lants can endure drier times and hot
err weather on soil that has lime and
lumus, and that Consequently pro-
uces stronger plants and holds what
moisture there is. better than on |
OIL worn out by overcropping.
Good seed should, of course. he
sed. Even though seed is high in |
rice this year, poor seed is relative
higher than good seed and should |
ever be used. Clover seed is small |
nd only those seeds can be expected
make plants that are droppd with
nan an inch or an inch blow the
urface. This is for an average loan
r clay loan soil. In sandy soil a
tile deeper planting will do no harm.
eeds dropped on the surface will
prout, il there is moisture, but the
mall plant is subjected to ali The
hances of hot days and cold nights
nd to the drying winds that so often
ONE in spring, and they may be kill
before they can get their strength
nough for safety.
Seeding Clover.
Glover is usually seeded on winter
rain or with spring grain. In either
vent It is much better to put the seed
with drill than to sow il broad
asst. II sown with a drill only about
ne-halt as much seed is needed as
hen sown broadcast. and with seed
'orth around 20 cents per pound this
lay become a very important item
ess seed is needed, because the
OF loss by leaving the seed
n the surface or by having it dron
TO the cracks of a honeycombed
ED SO deeply as to be lost are avoid ,
1t broadcasted. the seed should he
'vered by running a light harrow :