Smyrna times., 1927-03-23
URGE PLANTING SWEET CLOVER
FOR PASTURE IMPROVEMENT
KENT COUNTY AGENT TELLS
FARMERS 1T IS VALUABLE
Dairy Farmers Especially, Are TAX
ing up with Idea and More Acreage
May be Planted as a Result


May be Planted as Result
AS a part of the pasture improve
ment program for Kent county, which
has been launched this spring under
the direction of County Agent Russell
! 3. Wilson, the attention of the farm
ers is being called to the value of
sweet clover as pasture crop in adj
dition to its Importance as soil i'm
proven. Although many of the fruit
growers are interested in sowing
sweet clover as a cover crop in their
orchards each spring. this legume is
Especially adaptable for pasture for
dairy cattle, and each year more
dairymen in this county are making
use of this clover for this purpose in
view of the difficulties which manv Of
these milk producers are facing in
providing a sufficient and satisfactory
pasture for their cows.
Circular letters relative to the i'm
portance of sweet clover as pasture
crop for this section Of the state are
being mailed from the Office Of the
Kent County Agent this week to all
those dairy farmers who are deliver
| ing milk to the various receiving sta
tions and towns in the county. with
the hope that result Of this pasture
| improvement campaign large num-
/ Der of these dairymen will sow some
of this clover this spring as one of
the direct means of reducing their
milk production costs.
Sweet cloved may be seeded in the
wheat during the middle of March
of the first week in April. using the
same methods as when seeding other
clovers. It is very essential that the
biennial, white blossom, scarifed,
northem-grown seed be used,and care
must also be taken to inoculate the
seed in the event that it is being sown
for the first time on anv particular
field. Either the soil from a sweet
clover or an alfalfa field. or the pre-
pared inoculation culture may be used
for this purpose. The usual rate of
seeding is from ten to fifteen pounds
to the acre, and some farmers prefer
to add few pounds Of alsike and
timothy seed to provide an earlier
form of pasture than the sweet clover
affords the first season.
Lime is very essential to the sue
cessful growth Of the sweet clover, 50
unless the field has been lined with
in the past two or three years, it IS
advisable to apply from 800 to 1000
pounds of the hydrated lime, or its
equivalent, per acre. This material
may be applied as top-dressing on
the wheat during the winter or early
spring months.
This type of legume is not gener-
ally recommended for hay. although
lit may be cut about the first week
in September or the first year if the
weather conditions have been favor
able for its growth throughout the
summer. The second years growth
makes very coarse hay which is rath-
er undesirable, SO the chief object in
growing this clover. therefore, is foI
pasture If this clover is used for
hay the second year, however, i
should be cut about twelve inches
from the ground, as too close moving
will have a tendency to kill the plants
In addition to a good pasture field
every farmer, and especially the
dairymen, should have a few acres Of
alfalfa which is one of our most de
sirable hay crops.
AS sweet clover is a biennial crop
it does not fit into the rotation il
which hay is followed by pasture, con.
sequently it is best adapted to four
year rotation such as corn. wheat
wheat and sweet clover. in which al
falfa could be grown for hay. Swee-
clover which is sown this spring coult
be pastured this fall and again tht
; following year, and then in the sprini
Of 1928 it would have to be ploweC
under for such crops as corn, toma
toes or soy beans.
. Those farmers who are not grow
ing sweet clover at the present time
but who are interested in seeding
few acres this spring, should get il
touch with their County Agent i
! they desire additional information
concerning the cultural requirement
! for this particular legume, and the co
operation Of the farmers as who'll
is being solicited as a means of put
ting into practice this phase of tn
pasture improvement program for tn
lcoun+xy and c+afa