Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-07-24
More Clover
Planting Urged {

More general planting OF clover 10
improve the quality of the soil as
well as to increase the nutritive
value of hay is urged upon farmers
by the Connecticut Agricultural col
lege extension service in one OF It's
bulletins. Says the bulletin:
Farms which produce clover are
commonly regarded as the pest IN
any community. This popularity is
abundant testimony as to the merits
of this crop. However, in spite OF
the splendid qualities OF the clover
crop as a feed and as a SOIL lmproV-
er. only So per cent of the hay crop
of Connecticut is CLASSIFIED as cloVep
and timothy mixed, and less than
per cent is called pure clover. Ger
tainly a large proportion OF that
classified as mixed hay" contains
relatively small amount OF clover.
while more than half Of the cultl-
vated land in Connecticut produces
hay crop each year, the amount
of clover grown is exceedingly small.
Since ton of clover hay contains
anproximately two or three times as
much protein as a ton Of timothy or
redtop hay, the superior value OF
clover as a feed is apparent. Pro-
tein is the most expensive OF feed
constituents purchased by dairy
farmers and it has been estimated
that the farmer who uses clover hay
instead of ordinary grass hay re-
duces his cost of milk production as
much as % per cent. Through the
use of clovers 1t Is possible to main
tain the mineral reserves OF COWS
and young stock. To large extent
the great dairy sections of our coun-
try are also the clover-producing
sections.
Not only is the value of clover
hay greater per ton than that Of
grass hays but the yields per acre
are greater. Fields of mixed clover
and timothy. according to the last
census, excel by one-half ton, and
fields Of pure clover excel by nearly
three-fourths of a ton, the average
hay yield of this state. s1any farm
ers count upon the first crop of
clover being equal in weight to a
grass hay crop and the second crop
as a clear gain in yield. Yields of
four or five tons Of f1eld-cured clover
hay per acre in one season are being
secured by some farmers. although
the average hay yield for the state
Is slightly more than a ton per
acre."
Failures, continues the bulletin.
and the increasing difficulties in
raising clover and the appearance
of Glover sickness are due to two
causes, soils that do not contain the
organizes matter, lime or mineral
plant food that they once did, and
the use of seed not properly acclim-
ated. 1t has become the fashion to
blame all clover failures upon the
seedsmen and foreign clover seed
which is not, the seedsmen declare,
a fair criticism.
In numerous cases the soils need
lime and then the clover seed used
would produce good crop. Most
soils of this state need an application
of lime every four years for good
clover production" says the bulle-
tin. Many of the agricultural states
are in similar need. Seeing to it
that the soil Is properly lined should
be the first care of the farmer be-
fore blaming his failure upon seed
which may be absolutely good seed
and perfectly acclimated but which
gives poor stand because the clover
plants cannot find the necessary food
in the soil. Lime makes the crop
more certain" says the bulletin.
when red clover does not thrive,
lime should always be applied"