1863. 



XEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



107 



For the New England Farmer. 

 THE CLOVER PLANT. 

 The importance of the clover plant in all sys- 

 tems of rotation which have for their object not 

 only profitable returns, but the keeping up of 

 the fertility of the soil, can scarcely be overrat- 

 ed. Well did the good knight Schubert, more 

 than two hundred years ago, promise the peasants 

 of Germany that, if they "would grow clover, 

 they should have ample cause for rejoicing, and 

 of praising the Lord out of the fulness of their 

 hearts, for His rich blessings." In pursuance of 

 this advice "clover became," in the words of Thaer, 

 "the basis of agriculture, the pivot on which it 

 should turn," which in a system of rotation with 

 other crops "yields au advantageous produce, and 

 at the same time maintains the soil in a favorable 

 comlition for the following crops." If this was 

 true of German agriculture it is equally so of that 

 of many sections of this country. Mr. Geddes, 

 in his survey of Onondaga Co., for the New York 

 State Agricultui-al Society, opens his chapter on 

 practical farming with these words : "The agri- 

 culture of Onondaga County is based on the clo- 

 ver plant. It is used for pasture, for hay, and for 

 manure. Strike this plant out of existence and a 

 revolution would follow that would make it neces- 

 sary to learn everything anew in legard to culti- 

 vating our lands." 



Pi'operly managed, it is equally important on 

 many soils, to the New England farmer. Hence 

 •we would offer sundry further suggestions as to 

 soils and seeding. 



The soils most favorable to clover are those con- 

 taining both lime and clay ; not too great a pro- 

 portion of the latter, but rather that known as a 

 clayey loam. On such a soil, in a proper state of 

 cultivation, it is, according to Thaer, "in its native 

 abode ; nothing is required beyond the spreading 

 of the seed — the clover gets the better of all the 

 plants that grow around it." It will thrive on any 

 soil of moderate depth and fertility, if favored by 

 a season of sufficient moisture. Sandy loams, 

 however, are often deficient in lime, and also over- 

 charged with acids, as shown by the growth of 

 sorrel and dock, which are apt to overgrow the 

 clover ; but ashes or manure will so stimulate the 

 clover that it will finally succeed. It is said that 

 a mixture of ashes and gypsum is much the best 

 top-dressing for clover, on very acid soils, greatly 

 increasing its growth. 



Clover is best sown \vith some other crop, be- 

 cause it rarely yields much the first year, and in 

 the early stages of its growth it is assisted by the 

 protection of other grain, which should be removed 

 as early as may be ; for "the sooner," says Thaer, 

 "the crop with which clover is grown is harvested, 

 the greater the growth of the clover." In my ex- 

 perience I have found it to succeed best with win- 

 ter wheat and rye, next with spring wheat, next 

 with barley, and lastly with oats. 



A good deal of clover seed has been sown which 

 has failed to produce the intended crop, and va- 

 rious causes operate to hinder its vegetation or to 

 destroy the young plants. One cause of non-veg- 

 etatioii is the deep covering, or no covering given 

 the seed. Sown on spring grain, and harrowed 

 in with a heavy harrow, much is placed too deep 

 to be able to grow. Or, if sown on the fresh soil, 

 after the grain is covered, without any after treat- 

 ment, unless a heavy rain comes soon to wash it 



into the soil, the failure is equally sure. On win- 

 ter grain it is sometimes lost because sown too 

 late. If sown in March, or as soon as the fields 

 are bare, the freezing and thawing of the soil wiJl 

 furnish a proper covering for clover seed ; on 

 spring grains I would rather use the roller after 

 sowing, or pass over it with a light brush harrow. 



Another cause of failure, and one from which 

 we have suffered more than any other, is the 

 drought often occurring in early 'summer, before 

 the young clover gets sufficient growth to with- 

 stand its effects, and it is burned or dried up. 

 Remedy: the earliest sowing practicable, and ma- 

 nurial aid to induce a vigorous growth. Gy])sum, 

 or plaster, usually proves such a stimulant. A 

 light top-dressing of fine manure harrowed in with 

 the spring grain, is equally beneficial, and if the 

 soil is not very fertile, should be given, in addition 

 to the dressing of plaster and ashes. 



On land run down to a very low state of fertili- 

 ty, some such treatment is absolutely necessary ; 

 but once secure your clover crop and you may re- 

 deem the land. H. 



For the New Bngland Farmer, 

 HUNGARIAN 'JRASS. 



It may prove a satisfaction, (if not a benefit.") to 

 the young farmer who made some inquiries a few 

 weeks since, in relation to Hungarian grass, for 

 me to say I have cultivated, on an average, from 

 four to five acres, for five successive years. I have 

 now, January 31, 18G3, one bushel and two-thirds 

 of seed, measured out for the five acres I design 

 to devote to the crop the coming season. For two 

 years past, my seed has been mostly sold to deal- 

 ers, at about one dollar per bushel. I have fre- 

 quently sowed other grass seed with Hungarian, 

 for future crops of hay, and have never failed of a 

 fii-st-rate catch. 



Hungarian, (like other grains), varies in weight 

 according to its perfection, from 44 to 55 pounds 

 per bushel. It would be entirely superfluous for 

 me to say I like it. I only state facts. Let 

 "More Anon" theorize. Where there is a plenty 

 of everything, spice will be enjoyed by those who 

 like it. 



May we expect something before spring opens, 

 through the columns of the Farmer, in relation to 

 the propriety of cultivating sorghum in New Eng- 

 land, as a means of obtaining saccharine matter 

 for household purposes ? Wm. Richauds. 



Richmond, Mass., 1863. 



F.r the Neie England Farmer. 

 BRAIN IN BUTTER AND OTHER 

 ARTICLES. 



Mr. Editor : — Farmers complairw that cultiva- 

 tion of the soil renders them but a small return. 

 Without doubt this is frequently the case, but why 

 is it ? The fact is, the fiirmer puts in little, ex- 

 pecting to take out much— to reap when he has 

 not sown. The great lack is in not taking a bus- 

 iness-like view of the matter. The merchant in- 

 vests money in goods ; if he gives half his time 

 and attention to the store he expects to receive 

 pay in proportion, in addition to a fair percentage 

 for the use of the capital. The farmer has an idea 

 that, some how, his business will go on of itself— 

 that he can lie still on wet days in summer and 

 sit by the fire in winter, without diminishing his 

 annual gains. This is not so ; he cannot put in 



