lOO 



LIMING. 



Most clovers prefer a soil rich in lime. If the soil should 

 be so deficient in lime as to be acid it is advisable to use 

 slacked lime for crimson clover. At Auburn on very poor 

 gray sandy soil, not acid, but neutral, slacked lime at the 

 rate of 1200 pounds per acre greatly inerease<^ the yield of 

 crimson clover hay. On the same character of soil, but in 

 a higher state of fertility, the effect of lime on crimson 

 clover was not conspicious. There are large area^ of acid 

 soil in Alabama, especially in the southern part of the state 

 and in tl:e sandy "mountain" lands of north Alabama. On 

 such acid soils it will probably pay to us.e, as a preparation 

 for crimson clover, six to eight barrels of builder's lime per 

 acre, first slacking the lime to a powder. 



The lime is best harrowed into the soil before the seed 

 are sown aad should, ii,ot be brought in immediate contact 

 with the seed and fertiozer. To test a soil for acidity, press 

 the soil in a natural damp condition against both sides of 

 a narrow strip of blue litmus paper, which may be obtained 

 from a druggist. If the blue litmus paper turns to a 

 pinkish or red'dish color the soil is acid, and a crop of 

 crimson clo\^er gi*owing on it will probably be helped by 

 lime. 



VARIETIES OF CRIMSON CLOVER. 



There is but one kind of crimson clover in general use 

 in the United States. In a few localities another variety, 

 called the white blooming crimson clover, or more properly 

 white trifolium, is grown to a small extent. The white 

 trifolium bears a long white head similiar in size and shape 

 to the scarlet head of crimson clover. The white trifolium 

 is several weeks later in reaching a suitable stage for cut- 

 ting. At Auburn this white kind has usually grown a 

 little taller and afforded a considerably larger yield of hay. 



We have grown in Auburn three varieties having scarlet 



