2 



Several varieties are recognized in Europe, distinguished chiefly 

 by the color of the flowers and the time required by the plants to 

 reach maturity. Very little attention has been paid to these different 

 varieties in this country. A white-flowered variety is sometimes 

 seen on the market, but as a general rule only one sort is recognized 

 by seedsmen and this is usually sold under the name of crimson 

 clover. 



CONDITIONS OF GROWTH. 



Crimson clover will not stand severe freezing although it is one of 

 the so-called "winter annuals" and under favorable conditions 

 makes much of its growth during the cool, moist weather of fall, 

 winter, and early spring. Its strong-growing roots enable it to 

 secure nourishment in many soils so poor and thin that red clover 

 would fail entirely. While requiring a warm climate, it will not 

 endure severe drought. It thrives best on rich, rather sandy loams ; 

 but, when the conditions of moisture and temperature are favorable, 

 it gives good results on light sandy soils as well as on clays if they 

 are not too stiff and cold. 



Crimson clover has come into prominence in this country within 

 comparatively recent j^ears. It can hardly be regarded as a success- 

 ful crop outside of the region from New Jersey west to the Allegheny 

 Mountains and south to eastern Tennessee and Texas. True, good 

 yields are often obtained in other sections, but can not be depended 

 upon year after 3'ear. In the middle and south Atlantic States this 

 clover is one of the best crops that can be grown for forage and soil 

 renovation. It has given good results in many portions of the Gulf 

 States but many failures are also reported. In the colder sections of 

 the country this clover is sometimes successfully grown as a summer 

 crop but it usually winterkills badly when sown in the autumn. At 

 the experiment stations in Rhode Island, New York, Ohio, Michigan, 

 Illinois, South Dakota, Nebraska, and other States in the North and 

 West, the general results of tests show that it is too tender for the 

 climate and is less valuable than red clover. From results recently 

 obtained at the Alabama Experiment station it seems very likely that 

 in many cases, especially in the South, failures with this crop are to be 

 attributed to the absence from the soil of the tubercle-forming organ- 

 isms which are necessary for the proper appropriation of nitrogen 

 by the plant. These organisms being supplied to the soil, excellent 

 crops were obtained where without them the result was a failure. 



CULTURE, 



Preparation of soil. — There are many ways of preparing the 

 soil for this crop, depending largely upon the purpose for which it is 

 intended. Little if any fertilizer is needed, except what may be 



