HI 



stable manure. The earlier the first crop is cut the larger will be the crop 

 of seed. By treating the clover fields in this way, the yield of seed is 

 often doubled. Uplands will yield more seed than bottom lands, but 

 they should be enriched by a liberal application of manure. About the 

 first of September is the time to mow for seed, and the straw will thresh 

 all the better for being exposed to the weather for three weeks. The 

 threshing is usually done in the field, though the haulm may be hauled 

 up after being thoroughly dry. and stacked with a good straw covering, 

 or else stored away under shelter on a good tight floor until it suits the 

 convenience of the farmer to thresh. Care should be taken not to run 

 over or tramp upon the clover after it is dried, as many seeds are thus 

 shelled out and lost. The better plan is to haul to the thresher from the 

 field just as soon as the straw is in a proper condition to thresh. This 

 will save the trouble and expense and loss of handling it twice. 



Some farmers prefer to sow seed in the chaf?, believing that a better 

 stand of clover is thus secured. Usually about thirty bushels in the chaf? 

 are considered equivalent to one of cleaned seed. Of course this will de- 

 pend greatly upon the yield of seed, and experiments ought to be made 

 to determine the relative amount to sow when in chaflf. 



It is a curious fact and one, I believe, first mentioned by Mr. Darwin, 

 that the bumble bee plays an important part in the fertilization of this 

 plant. Careful observation has determined the fact that the amount of 

 clover seed gathered from a particular field will, other things being equal, 

 be in proportion to the number of bumble bees that feed upon the flowers. 

 In the act of feeding they gather the pollen from one flower and transfer 

 it to the next one upon which they alight, thus acting as important agents 

 in the fertilization of the flower, and consequently in increasing the pro- 

 duction of seed. 



CRIMSON OR SCARLET CLOVER- ( 7V//b//M?« incafiiatum.)— 

 (Pastures and Hay.) 



• Within the past decade crimson clover has become a staple crop in 

 some of the counties in Tennessee. It is an annual and grows to the 

 height of three feet on good soils. Few things in the vegetable world 

 present a more beautiful sight than a field of crimson clover in full 

 bloom. It seems to be better adapted to southern climates than red 

 clover and it has given satisfaction at the North Carolina Experiment 

 Station and as far south as Louisiana. 



Prof. Stubbs, of Louisiana, says: "It is thoroughly at home in 

 every part of the State, making a large crop of excellent hay. A combi- 

 nation of this crop and cowpeas affords the readiest means of quickly 

 restoring worn out lands or of furnishing a continual supply of fresh 

 hay for stock." 



A large area of this clover is sown every year in Franklin county, 

 Tennessee, in the Belviderc settlement. In answer to inquiries Mr. Jno. 

 Ruch, of that place, says: "We sow it in August or September, using two 

 or three gallons of seed to the acre. It comes to maturity the last of 

 .\pril or first of May, when it is cut and cured for hay in the same man- 



