52 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



CRIMSON CLOVER. 



This new plant, owing to ignorance of its cliaracteristics and adapta- 

 bility for agricultural purposes, has many times been misappropriated, 

 causing serious disappointment and financial loss. It is, in fact, an 

 inhabitant of a more southern climate than this, and in its present con- 

 dition cannot be at its best on a Michigan farm. As a hay or pasture 

 crop there is not much to recommend it. Inasmuch as in the form of 

 cured hay there is some danger in feeding it, and as a pasture crop 

 there are so many other plants that are its superior, it is not desirable 

 for that T)urpose. Its true function is that of a catch and cover crop. 

 It may be sown in the spring and will give a reasonably good growth 

 the first year, but will generally be killed through the winter. Its main 

 use is as a catch crop, to be sown in the orchards or any other ground 

 on the farm or garden that may become vacant after the middle of 

 June. It is usually sown during the month of July, with the hope of 

 fall growth only. If by chance^ however, the winter favors its living 

 over, it will make a good growth in the following spring, maturing its 

 seeds by the middle of June. Should one be successful enough to get 

 a good spring growth and mature crop, it is i)ossible to grow his own 

 seed by harvesting and threshing as we do the red clover. The roots of 

 the crimson clover do not penetrate so deeply as do the other clovers, and 

 it is, therefore, a surface feeder, the roots developing a great number 

 of nodules and the accumulation of atmospheric nitrogen is very rapid. 

 The New Jersey Experiment Station from analyses of the crop at vari- 

 ous periods obtained the following results: 



A crop six inches high, harvested April 24, contained 103.7 pounds 

 nitrogen per acre. 



A crop thirteen inches high, harvested May 12, contained 168.3 

 pounds nitrogen ,per acre. 



A crop in bloom, harvested May 21, contained 189.6 pounds nitrogen 

 per acre. 



A crop mature, harvested May 31, contained 212 pounds nitrogen per 

 acre. 



While some of this nitrogen may have been taken from the soil, and 

 in all probability was, it is safe to assume that a very large amount 

 of it was obtained from the air, and as such is a clear gain. At 12%c 

 a pound, a very modest price, the 212 pounds of nitrogen would be 

 worth 126.50, while the other elements in this crop of clover would 

 retnrn a very considerable amount of plant food to the soil if used as 

 green manuring. 



ALFALFA. 



This plant is cultivated largely in the west, and is especially adapted 

 for deep soils, where the water is a considerable distance from the sur- 

 face. It has long, strong roots, which go down far enough into the 

 soil to draw up sufficient moisture to maintain growth, even in the 

 dryest period. It has attained its greatest prominence, however, in 

 the irrigated regions of the West, though the success with which Mr. 

 H. D. Watson, of Kearney, Nebraska, has cultivated this plant with- 

 out irrigation is something marvelous. Alfalfa thrives well in New 

 York state on heavy clay, where it yielded an average of five and six- 



