Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1923-12-14
Sweet Clover to
Be Turned Under
Will Return as Much Nitro
gen as Seven Tons of
Manure.

sweet clover ns green manure
crop will return us much nitrogen to
the. soil as seven tons Of mixed ma.
nure, according to three-ysar trial
at the Maryland experiment station.
Unlike rye or other non-legune crops
this nitrogen will be largely taken
from the air and Is a free gift TO the
farmer who is wise enough TO make
use Of II. II Will also conserve soil
nitrogen that becomes available dur
ing the late summer and is wasted
where no green crop ls grown.
Increasing numbers OF farmers are
seeding ten pounds Of scarlned and
lnoculated sweet clover seed with all
their grain. II not only provides
green manure but the first year viii
provide fall pasture and the second
year will produce green feed where
permanent pastures are brown and Of
little value II improves soil condl-
tons on the dairy farm. lowers the
cost Of producing milk. and increases
fern profits at practically the cost Of
the seed used. With this in mind. why
not try a seeding Of sweet clover In
the last cultivation Of corn or with
grain next spring.
Suggestions From Maryland.
Following are some good sugges-
lions from the Maryland station on
the seeding and manr cement Of sweet
clover:
'rhe soil on which the sweet clover
crops were grown was well inoculated
for legume. Ten pounds OF hulled
seed was sufficient to give satisfac-
tory stand. On land Of low fertility
and not well inoculated the see ling
rate should be at least fifteen pounds
Of seed per acre. 1t is important to
use only 'scarlfled' seed. which Is
hulled seed that has been passed
through a machine that scratches the
tough outer seed coat. This fnsures
not only prompt but higher germina-
tion OF seeds. II is also important
that the seed be covered lightly. This
is best accomplished by doing the
seeding with a disk grass seeder or by
narrowing lightly with a smoothing
harrow II the seed was distributed
with a broadcastlng machine.
Sweet clover, like other legumes.
makes Its best growth II the proper
nitrogen-fixing bacteria are present.
On land where alfalfa has been grown
II is not necessary to inoeulate. Where
the crop is planted for the first time.
It is quite essential that the seed be
inoculated. The incubation may be
accomplished either by the transfer of
soil from field inoculated for alfalfa
or sweet clover, or by use Of pure
culture. The pure culture is usually
10 be preferred. Although the sweet
clover will grow on land too sour for
alfalfa and common clover. the best
results are secured on soils which are
not acid. This IS especially important
where the crop Is used for soil I'm
provement.
Craze With Hogs.
of the crop is to be used in part
for summer pasture, hogs should be
turned in for grazing as soon as the
wheat is removed They will consume
much of the grain left on the field In
addition to the sweet clover. From
600 TO SEQ pounds live weight of hogs
may be grazed per acre without ma
terlally injuring the growth and stand
Of the clover. Cattle will rot eat the
green sweet clover readily, but will
become accustomed to It in few days.
whether the clover Is to be in part
gfazed or all Of II allowed TO remain
on the field until time to turn under
for green manure. should be deter
mined from the standpoint. Of the fer
tility of the soil and the need for sum-
mer grazing. Before blowing. the field
should be dlsked thoroughly. This
viii cut and macernte the sweet clover
plants and hasten their disintegration.
The dlsking will mix soil with the
plants and will also improve the plow-
ing condition If the soil is rather dry.
A heavy type disk, deeply set, will
produce the best results. The blowing
and subsequent preparation for fall
planted crops need not be different
from the approved practices for fall
seeded grains"