172 MEADOWS AND PASTURES 



ated. It can not be sown in the spring. July, August, 

 September or October are the months of sowing, depend- ' 

 ing on location; the later months are best for the Gulf 

 States. 



Quantity of Seed to Sow. From 10 to 20 pounds to 

 the acre are sown. It is commonly sown alone. I have 

 had good results mixing it with other clovers in Louisi- 

 ana, though the crimson clover outgrew its rivals at 

 first. The chief difficulty is to get the plants started at 

 this dry time of year. It is not always safe to sow in 

 the dust, since there may come a very slight rain that 

 will sprout the seed without sustaining it. Besides sow- 

 ing as a catch-crop m the standing corn, it may be sown 

 alone on fields especially prepared for it. Thus sown 

 in Louisiana we had best success, and it made us good 

 pasturage for hogs. It may be mixed with rape seed, 

 one pound of the latter to five of crimson clover, for hog 

 pasture. One must not graze closely if one wishes to 

 get the greatest good from the plant. 



Crimson Clover as a Regenerator. I feel that I can 

 not urge too strongly the importance of this legume to 

 the South. It comes at a time when fields are commonly 

 idle, wasting and unlovely. It covers them over with 

 a mantle of green. It stores them with fertility, adds 

 humus and makes them mellow. It affords feed for 

 plantation stock, commonly half-famished for something 

 green and succulent, and is good for fowls and bees. 

 The farmer once having his fields inoculated and a start 

 of the clover, is able to save his own seed and have 

 enough for himself and his neighbors. Crimson clover 

 rightly used will lay the foundation for better things. 



