168 MEADOWS AND PASTURES 



England trifolium. There are two varieties: one with 

 crimson and the other with white flowers. There are in 

 France recognized a number of minor varieties differing 

 chiefly in their time of maturing. A field of crimson 

 clover in bloom is a sight not soon to be forgotten. The 

 bloom is more brilliant than that of any other plant of 

 our fields or meadows. The clover is well worth growing 

 as an ornamental in the flower bed if there is not room 

 for it in the meadow. I recall vividly the crimson patches 

 on the landscapes of England and France, more especially 

 the latter. In France it seems the custom to sow clovers 

 in mixtures. I have seen crimson clover sown with red 

 clover and rye grass, all mown off together and fed to 

 dairy cows. In England it is used as a soiling crop for 

 lambs that are fitted for the shows, and it is a gaudy sight 

 to see at the showyard the great lusty lambs, nicely col- 

 ored as to fleece, standing at racks filled with crimson 

 clover, very crimson as to top and very darkly, richly 

 green as to leaf, I think the clover is sometimes fed off 

 there in hurdles as well. Crimson clover is strictly an 

 annual, living less than one year. Commonly the seed 

 falls to the ground in June, germinating in July or Aug- 

 ust. The plant makes growth during the cool weather 

 or fall, and is so resistant to cold that it is green nearly 

 all winter. With the first warm days of spring it is up 

 and doing; it heads in May, perfects seed and dies. 



Where Is Crimson Clover of Use? Crimson clover is 

 a plant for mild climates. It can not endure extreme 

 frost. It has failed with me more often than it has 

 succeeded in central Ohio. North of me along Lake 



