192 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



CRIMSON CLOVER. 



This is an annual species, which matures its seed and dies the same 

 year it is sown. In Delaware, Maryland, and other states, where largely 

 grown, it is sown in summer or early autumn and lives over winter, 

 maturing a crop of hay or seed early the next season. It is therefore a 

 valuable crop to use as a fertilizer, particularly in fruit plantations, since 

 it does not need to occupy the land during the principal growing season. 

 Attempts to grow this clover in Michigan have as yet seldom proved suc- 

 cessful, owing to our severe winters. [Later returns are soraewhat more 

 favorable.] 



ALFALFA. 



This forage plant, now extensively grown in the west, is being tested 

 by many farmers in this State. When well established it possesses a 

 remarkable ability to withstand drouth. For the best results the seed 

 should be sown early in the spring without a grain crop, on deep, reason- 

 ably fertile soil. If weeds make their appearance, as they doubtless will, 

 both weeds and alfalfa should be cut with a mower in early summer and 

 left upon the ground as a mulch. In following years the crop should be 

 cut for hay as often as it commences to blossom, two or three crops of 

 moderate size being thus obtained in a season. 



ORCHARD GRASS. 



This is a valuable grass, especially for pasture. For hay it is hardly 

 equal to timothy and needs to be cut early. It will grow on almost any 

 soil and will last longer than most other grasses. Sow not less that a 

 bushel (14 pounds) of seed per acre. 



MILLET. 



There are several kinds in the market. The largest yield, on good soil, 

 if sown early, is obtained from German millet. Hungarian grass yields 

 somewhat less and requires a little shorter season, but does not with- 

 stand drouth as well. Common millet is earlier than either and may be 

 sown as late as the first of July. In ordinary cases this kind will prob- 

 ably give the best satisfaction. 



OATS AND PEAS. 



These sown together make an excellent forage crop, either to be fed 

 green or to be cured as hay. They should be sown as early in the spring 

 as possible, at the rate of two bushels of field peas and not less than one 

 bushel of oats per acre. 



RAPE. 



This crop is gaining in popularity. It delights in a fertile soil and a 

 cool moist climate. It is a crop especially adapted to sheep, but may 

 also be fed to cattle, except milch cows. It is always fed green, either 

 cut for soiling, or more commonly pastured. The chief drawback ta 



