The Lexington progress. (Lexington, Tenn.) 1884-current, 1921-08-19
CRIMSON CLOVER.

| CRImSON CLON En-
Many inquiries are coming to the
Department of Agriculture about
crimson clover. ] am pleased to note
this interest, because crimson clover
provides the most practical and eco
monte method Of supplying nitrogen
for the soil. Practically all Of our
soils are deficient in this important
element Of plant food, and il IS the
most expensive purchase in a COM
mercial fertilizer
/ Fifteen pounds Of crimson clover
| per acre will seed the ground. 1t is
claimed by authorities that a crop of
crimson clover viii put 60 to rs
/ pounds Of nitrogen per acre into the
ground. 1t is a good cover crop for
land during the winter, prevents land
from washing, and furnishes some
winter pasture when the land is dry
enough for stock to b c turned on it.
The crop can be cut for hay or seed,
but if possible stock should be taken
off of it when the spring growth
starts and the crop turned under
about May 10th, in time to prepare
and plant in corn or seed to peas or
soy beans.
In preparing the land a good seed
bed should be made, just as for clio
yer, grass or any small grain crop. |
have seeded land in corn and crimson
clover during August, where the corn
had not been blown down. In some
corn crops that ] have seen this year
that would not be possible. There
was too much filth on the ground
weeds and grass. If the corn has
been well cultivated there should not
be enough weeds and grass to inter
| fere. This has to be done with a one
horse cultivator.
For hay, crimson clover is not as
good as red clover, but when possible
the crop should be turned under.
There is another advantage in grow
ing crimson clover-no better provis-
ion can be made for the honey bee
in the early spring, when stimulating
feeding is essential to insure strong
colonies to gather the honey from the
later bloom.
During the war period, farmers
were urged to produce food to the
limit, and they responded nobly. But
in so doing they made heavy drains
on their soils, and put very little back.
Most of them abandoned for the time
being their regular rotations. But
we cannot continue to feed out of
crib without emptying. We cannot
take from our soils plant food and not
return it in some form without dis
asterous results. Nature provides
the means for maintaining the fertil-
ity of our soils, if we will employ
them. Legumes are the least expensive
and the most valuable means of re-
storing both the nitrogen and humus,
and crimson clover is one Of the very
best, because it can be grown during
the winter months and leave the land
free during the summer months to
produce winter crop for market.
We are having rains at intervals
which ought to enable farmers to pre-
pare good seed beds and get their
crimson clover seeded during month
of August. With the crimson clover,
like to seed three-fourths of a
DuSnel or rye per acre.
Farmers, like other people, are en-
titled to vacation People from the
city go to the country and country
people like to go to town. Why not
plan your vacation at the time of the
big fairs where you can meet all your
friends, and at the same time, see the
progress that is being made in agri-
culture and live stock production.
Tennessee has five big fairs in the
State, the East Tennessee Division
Fair at Knoxville, Chattanooga Di-
vision Fair at Chattanooga, the West
| Tennessee District Fair at Jackson,
the Tri-State Fair at Memphis, and
the Clearing House for better agricul-
ture for the State and the Tennessee
State Fair at Nashville. A week
spent at one Of these fairs will help
and encourage any farmer. They are
entitled to a vacation, and why not
take it at one of the big fairs and be
benefited as well as entertained