3 



used in connection with the clover to prepare the land for the next 

 crop in the rotation. On very poor, worn-out soils it is usually a 

 good plan to give a moderate application of phosphate and potash. 

 When crimson clover follows a cultivated crop like corn no prepara- 

 tion is necessary other than that of the cultivation of the corn or 

 other crop. When the clover follows a crop of small grain it is 

 usually necessary to plow the land and this should be done just 

 before the time for sowing the seed. Cloddy land should be well 

 pulverized before seeding. A fine seed bed is essential to uniform 

 germination. 



Seeding. — It is extremely important that a farmer should sow 

 none but fresh seed. It is an easy matter to test the germinating 

 power of the seed; it requires but a very short time and is well 

 worth the while of every farmer intending to sow in any quantity*. 

 Good fresh seed should germinate 90 to 95 per cent and under 

 proper conditions the sprouting should take place within three days. 

 American seed has given much better results than the imported, on 

 account of its greater vitality. The amount of seed sown per acre 

 varies from 10 to 20 pounds, depending largely upon the character 

 of the soil and the use to which the crop is to be put. Rarely a 

 smaller quantity may be used. The common practice is to use about 

 12 or 15 pounds. 



The seed may be sown broadcast or with a drill. The former is 

 the most common in practice, perhaps largely from the fact that the 

 clover is so often sown on land already occupied by corn, potatoes, 

 or some other crop. The seed is often sown by hand, sometimes 

 from horseback, but better results will usually be secured by the use 

 of some machine like the Gaboon broadcast seeder. 



Throughout the middle Atlantic States and the South generally 

 crimson clover may be sown any time from July 15 to September 

 15, and if the moisture conditions are favorable it may be sown 

 still later in the Gulf States. As a rule the best results are obtained 

 from seed sown in July and August. The seed may also be sown 

 in the spring, but, except in the colder northern States or for some 

 special purpose, the results are much less satisfactory. In the 

 North, spring sowing is necessary if this crop is grown at all. It may 

 sometimes be grown to advantage in this section as a temporary 

 crop in place of red clover. 



Some farmers do not cover the seed at all ; but many failures have 

 resulted from following this method, attributed by some to heavj^ 

 rains immediately after the seed is sown but more likely due to the 

 exposure of the tender, unprotected plants to the hot summer sun. 



* A full discussion of the selection and testing of crimson clover seed will be 

 found in Circular No. 18, Div. Bot., U. S. Dept. Agric, August, 1899. 



