202 Feeds and Feeding. 



This variety of clover flourishes on land too moist for other 

 clovers, though it will not grow in really wet soils. While red 

 clover usually dies out the second year, alsike stands for many 

 years, this feature increasing its value for pasture purposes. 



294. Scarlet or crimson clover. This clover is an annual, 

 resembling the wheat plant in this phase of its habits. If sown 

 in late summer or early fall, in the southern part of the United 

 States it grows somewhat during the winter, and with the coming 

 of spring advances rapidly to the hay period, which is reached 

 by late spring, after which the plants die. In making its round 

 of growth in the fall and spring, crimson clover resembles winter 

 wheat. On the other hand, if sown in spring it blossoms in late 

 summer, matures its seeds and dies, thus following the habit of 

 spring wheat. The winter form of this plant has flourished with 

 remarkable success from Delaware 1 southward to the Carolinas. 2 

 Crimson clover can be grown throughout the Southern states as 

 a winter plant, but its use has not yet become general. The 

 Northern states are too cold for fall-sown crimson clover, but it 

 may be used as a summer crop with some advantage, though 

 generally it is inferior to red clover. Wherever it flourishes, 

 crimson clover will be found useful for soiling purposes, and if 

 cut early it makes hay of fair quality. 



295. Danger to horses from overripe crimson clover. The blos- 

 som heads of crimson clover are covered with minute hairs, which 

 become rigid as the heads ripen. Investigations conducted by the 

 Department of Agriculture, 3 Washington, show that death may 

 result to horses when fed overripe crimson clover. A circular 

 from the Department states: "If overripe crimson clover is fed 

 to horses, the bristly hairs (of the heads) will accumulate in the 

 stomach or intestines in spherical balls, which are increased in 

 size by repeated additions of the same matter to their surfaces, 

 the whole mass tending to become more compact because most of 

 the hairs, upwardly barbed, are constantly pushing toward the 

 center, base foremost. When a ball has reached a sufficient size 

 (whether after a few days or several weeks we have no means of 



1 Bui. 16, Del. Sta. 



2 Bui. 73, North Car. Sta. 



3 Circular No. 8, Div. of Botany, 1896. 



