No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 477 



Its habits of growth are not so well kuown as those of the other 

 varieties described and for this reason, among others, is not so gen- 

 erally' distributed even in those sections where it thrives well. Its 

 habits are such as to make it undesirable to substitute it for the 

 red, though it may well sui)plement it, and thus add another useful 

 clover crop to our list. It is essentially a cool weather plant, thriv- 

 ing well in late fall and eary spring, and maturing seed in the 

 middle States about June 1st. These characteristics of growth make 

 it especially suitable for a catch crop, which may be used without 

 interfering v.ith regular rotations. It has proved hardy in the 

 eastern and middle States, though many failures are reported, which 

 are probably due in large part to the failure to observe in its seeding 

 the peculiar habits and characteristics of the plant. The impression 

 that because it is a catch crop it will grow well on poor soils with 

 other crops, under all conditions of season and climate and without 

 particular care in seeding, is erroneous. Like other plants, crimson 

 clover must have food — it is affected by drouth and cold and severe 

 weather; it cannot subsist with other crops, which rob it of moisture 

 and plant food, and it must be carefully seeded, in order to insure 

 against adverse conditions, though when conditions are favorable 

 it will catch and grow from a -simple sowing of the seed on raw 

 ground. It should preferably be seeded at the rate of 12 to 15 

 pounds per acre, on a well prepared seed-bed and covered lightly 

 with harrow or weeder. It is not suited for spriog seeding, as it 

 ceases to grow as soon as hot weather comes, the best period for 

 seeding ranges in the eastern and middle States from July 1.5th to 

 September 1st; it may, therefore, be used as a. catch crop, seeded in 

 com, berry patches, orchards, etc., after the regular cultivation has 

 ceased for the seasoo and after early potatoes, tomatoes and other 

 crops harvested early enough in the season to enable its roots to get 

 a hold of the soil and to make coosiderable top before cold weather 

 sets in. While it requires a good soil for its best development it is 

 well adapted for light sandy soils if well supplied with mineral 

 food. It will grow later in the fall than red clover, because not 

 injured by frost, and also make a more rapid spring gi-owth than 

 any of the other clovers seeded in the late summer. Where the 

 land is light and poor, a dressing of acid phosphate, say at the rate 

 of 150 pounds per acre, will materially aid in securing a catch and 

 insuring a crop. Its early maturity is one of it» most valuable 

 characteristics from the standpoint of its use as green manure, 

 making it possible when seeded in corn, for example, to secure a 

 considerable green manure crop, in time to plow down for another 

 corn crop. When the plants are largely destroyed because of se- 

 vere winters, the accumulated nitrogen and organic matter in the 



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