352 



FARMERS' REGISTER 



[No. 6. 



From the Fanner and Gardener. 

 CLOVER AND ITS FERTILIZING PROPERTIES. 



In a recent conversation with Mr. Robert Sin- 

 clair, Senior, upon this subject, we observed to 

 him, that in crossing a clover field a iew days pre- 

 viously, we were more convinced than ever, of its 

 capacity tor restoring worn-out lands, by the im- 

 mense vegetable deposites which we saw in a 

 state of rapid decomposition; that no matter how 

 carefully a crop of clover might be cut, the return 

 to the soil would be very great; upon which he 

 related to us the following fact illustrative of our 

 remark. 



Some years back he purchased a farm on Jones' 

 Falls, called Poplar Hill, on which there was a 

 lot of eight acres, which, from the exhausting 

 course of culture to which it had been subjected, 

 was almost literally deprived of its vitality. It was 

 not convenient for him to apply either lime, ashes 

 or stable manure, and so impoverished was the 

 lot that the general opinion of the neighbors was, 

 that it would not brino; more than six bushels of 

 wheat to the acre. This opinion was based as 

 well on the results of former years' productions, 

 as on the then present appearance. In this discour- 

 aging aspect of affairs, being unwilling to let it 

 remain idle, he sowed it down jn clover, and push- 

 ed its growth by plaster. The clover thrived 

 tolerably well, was ploughed in the next fall, and 

 wheat sowed on the clover lay; the produce of the 

 eight acres, to the great astonishment of Mr. Sin- 

 clair and his neighbors, was 200 bushels of good 

 heavy wheat, being an average of 25 bushels to 

 the acre. This result, as we have before pre- 

 mised, was effected without the application of any 

 thing in the form of manure save the clover and 

 plaster, and to those agents alone, is this great 

 melioration in the condition of the soil of Mr/Sin- 

 clair's lot to be ascribed; and we hold it, that it is 

 a matter of perfect indifference whether the effect 

 was produced by the clover acting as a manure, 

 or the plaster as a stimulant; whether from the 

 affinity of the latter to attract moisture, or by the 

 combined operation of both— we say, be the mo- 

 dus operandi what it may, the effect was most sal- 

 utary and wholesome, in converting a worn out 

 field into a state of fertility. The success of this 

 experiment, for it was but an experiment at that 

 period, together with the thousand of other en- 

 couraging results, which have subsequently taken 

 place, should make every one who has a poor 

 field sow it down in this grass, whether his object 

 be the attainment of a good crop of nutritious 

 hay for his stock, or a luxuriant clover lay to turn 

 in to fertilize his soil: and whether his object be 

 the one or the other, he should not sow less than 

 three gallons of seed, if sown alone. In our view, 

 a great fault is most generally committed in not 

 sowing enough of seed. If intended for hay, a 

 primary object with every farmer should be, to 

 have that hay as clean m~\& free from weeds as pos- 

 sible, and the only way to effectuate that, is by 

 filling the entire surface of the ground with grass, 

 inasmuch as leaving unoccupied spaces in a clo- 

 ver field, only serves to encourage the growth of 

 noxious weeds, exhaust the strength of the soil, 

 render the. hay foul, and ultimately to supplant the 

 clover by unwholesome grasses and weeds. 

 There is another mistake, which many farmers 

 make in their great desire to practice a wasting 



economy. We allude to the time of ploughing in 

 their clover lay. Many delay this operation until 

 the third year, when, in the natural course of 

 things, the clover is nearly run out, it being a 

 biennial plant. This delay, therefore, defeats, in 

 a great measure, the very effect intended to be 

 secured by the ploughing in of the clover, because 

 of the scarcity of the plant. Whereas, if it were 

 to be turned in the second year, the decomposi- 

 tion both of the tap and lateral roots and stems, 

 would exercise the happiest effects in fertilizing, 

 separating, and rendering the soil friable. 



But is it not wonderful, that notwithstanding 

 the advantages resulting from the clover culture, 

 in the comlbrt of animals, the melioration of the 

 soil, and increase of crops, has been known and 

 universally acknowledged in Europe for upwards 

 of two centuries, and it is well on to fifty years, 

 since it was first, introduced into America, that it 

 is not even now in general cultivation throughout 

 our country? It was but the other day that the 

 raising of small patches, by two gentlemen in one 

 of the counties of North Carolina, was hailed as 

 a meritorious novelty. We rejoiced sincerely 

 when we saw the annunciation that the good 

 work had been begun there; for in the language 

 of an old adage, it is "better late than never," 

 and we doubt not the intelligence of the good 

 people of that state, will, when the benefits of 

 the clover culture are placed before them, soon 

 discover its great advantages, and emulate their 

 neighbors in the praiseworthy work of rendering 

 public good. — Editor. 



From the Genesee Farmer. 

 THE CUT WORM. 



Although all insect life, in the worm or mag- 

 got state, is more tenacious of existence than in 

 any other, the cut worm deserves a high rank in 

 the class of invincibles. In seeking for a destruc- 

 tive or preventive a gent, a broad rmg of mercu- 

 rial ointment w T as first tried, as a boundary or 

 barrier to their motion. This was passed with 

 great precipitancy, and even tasted with apparent 

 indifference. In the same manner a number 

 were surrounded alternately with a -solution of 

 oxygen, muriate of mercury, oil of vitriol, aqua- 

 fortis, japan varnish, spirits of turpentine, and 

 spirit gas, most of which were first tasted by the 

 worms, and then heedlessly forded. A little oil 

 of vitriol was applied to the head of one, which he 

 seemed to dislike when it came to his mouth, but 

 was unharmed by its action. Nitric acid was 

 applied in the same manner and with the same 

 result. A number were immersed in a saturated 

 solution of corrosive sublimate, which caused 

 them to disgorge the green contents of their sto- 

 machs, and to writhe ibr a time as though in a dy- 

 ing state. When their motions had ceased, they 

 were removed from the bath, and in one minute 

 were fully resuscitated, and scudded away as fast 

 as possible. Some fresh ones were next dropped 

 into sulphuric acid, (oil of vitriol,) which caused 

 also a disgorgement and writhing violently for a 

 shorter space. On its ceasing they were removed, 

 and lay as many insects that feign death when 

 disturbed, or think themselves observed. From 

 this condition they suddenly started into life, and 

 scampered away as if nothing had happened. 

 The conclusion was irresistible, that however 



