CLOVERS. 



223 



climate. It is an erect annual plant, growing about 

 two feet high and has large, showy heads about two 

 inches long. The flowers vary in color but are gen- 

 erally a bright crimson. 



Crimson clover is not new to this country, but it 

 has recently been brought into prominence by being 

 recommended as a soiling crop. For this purpose it 

 is sown alone in August or September and harvested 

 in the following May. Vasey says it 

 deserves a trial in the dry climates of 

 the West. , 



Alfalfa or lucerne {Medhcago 

 sativa) has probably been used for 

 hay longer than any other cultivated 

 plant. The ancient Greeks and 

 Romans used it. It is now culti- 

 vated in Southern Europe. 



It was introduced into North 



America under the French name 



» 



lucerne, by the first colonists. It 



was tried over and over again in the 



New England and Atlantic states 



during the 150 years that elapsed 



prior to the Revolution. It was ^^fterVaf^f' 



finally abandoned. Darlington wrote in 1859 that 



alfalfa could not be profitably grown where red clover 



was successful. Later experience has not disproved 



this assertion. Each has its place. 



It was introduced into South America under the 

 Spanish name, alfalfa, where it now grows wild ex- 

 tensively. It was introduced into California from 

 Chili and has become the principal forage crop of the 

 Pacific and Rocky Mountain states. Six tons of hay 



