72 



with a small garden rake and a hoe. The date of full bloom was from the 10th to 

 the loth of September, but it did not ripen on account of frost about Septemter 25. 

 The vines were set full of pods and spread over the ground from 6 to 8 feet in every 

 direction. Cattle and horses will eat them and seem to relish them. 



Prof. A. J. McClatchie, Experiment Station, Phoenix, Ariz. : 



A gravelly loam was used which had been thoroughly ploughed and harrowed. 

 The seed was sown April 12, 1899, in hills 3 by 3 feet, and cultivated until the 

 runners prevented. It blooms in August. As the Metcalte bean is a perennial, it 

 is too early to give results and estimates of value. The tops died down during 

 September. 



Mr. J. A. Mickelson, Elcampo. Wharton County, Tex. : 



The seed was sown March 25, 1899, on well-prepared partly black sandy soil. Fur- 

 rows were made with a garden hoe and the seed covered about 1 inch deep. It seems 

 as if every seed germinated. I cultivated once by running a sweep between the beds, 

 which were 4 feet apart. The bean grew well and had long vines, but unfortunately 

 the Brazos flood of June and Jul}' affected us here in this community, though only 

 by heavy rains, which scalded the majority of crops here and killed the Metcalfe 

 bean. I am under the impression, however, that the bean would prove valuable 

 here. 



CRIMSON CLOVER (Trifolium incarnatum) . ^ 



An erect, tufted, rapid-growing, annual legume from 1 to 2 feet 

 high, with soft hairy leaves and usually bright scarlet flowers in elon- 

 gated heads. It is a native of the Mediterranean region, and although 

 it has been long cidtivated in the warmer portions of Europe it has 

 only recently come into prominence in this country. In the Middle 

 and South Atlantic States this clover is one of the best crops that can 

 be grown for forage and soil renovation. The general results of investi- 

 gations carried on in the North and Northwest show that it is too tender 

 for that climate and is less valuable than red clover. It is an excellent 

 crop for use as hay, soiling, pasturage, silage, green manure, and as 

 a cover crop. The hay when well cured is superior to red clover, has 

 a somewhat higher percentage of digestibility, and is relished by all 

 kinds of stock. On dairy farms it is especially valuable for soiling 

 purposes, as it is read}^ for use some time before red clover, and at a 

 time when there are few other crops at hand. In the early spring it 

 makes excellent pasturage either alone or in conjunction with winter 

 rye or rape. The quality of ensilage which it produces is better than 

 that from most other leguminous plants and is highly valued for feeding 

 to dairy stock. When used as a green manure, it exerts a most bene- 

 ficial eflect on the condition of the soil, adding nuich humus and nitrogen, 

 as well as other valual)le elements of plant food. As a cover crop it 

 can hardly be surpassed. When sown after the last cultivation, it will 

 serve to prevent the soil from leaching out or washing badly, to con- 

 serve the moisture during the long periods of dry weather, to reduce 



'For full discussion of Crimson Clover see Circular No. 17, Division of Agrostology, 

 and Circular No. 18, Division of Botany, Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. 



