I (X) THE FORAGE AND FIBER CROPS IN AMERICA 



cannot be harvested when they are both in the best condition. 

 The danger is that the crop will be harvested when the clover 

 is too mature and before the timothy has reached the proper 

 growth. Clover can generally be cured more readily in July 

 than in June both on account of the greater heat and the drier 

 atmosphere. The deep roots and coarse growth of mammoth 

 clover give it a manurial value higher than that of red clover. 

 The yield of seed is generally greater than with red clover. 

 While one crop of mammoth clover may not yield as much 

 as two crops of red clover, the larger single crop may be the 

 more economical. 



173. Disadvantages. The coarse stems of mammoth clover 

 are likely to become woody and produce hay which is less 

 readily eaten by cattle than hay of red clover. This is espe- 

 cially true on rich soils where mammoth clover has a rather 

 large proportion of stems to leaves. In this case the crop is 

 likely to fall badly and the stems lying upon the ground are 

 likely to deteriorate in quality before cutting. 



174. Adaptation. In general its soil and climatic adaptation 

 and its cultural methods are similar to those of red clover. It 

 is best adapted to relatively poor soils, both because of the 

 greater benefit to the soil and because such soils prevent too 

 rank a growth. On such soils it is an excellent crop to raise 

 for seed, both because of the high yield of seed and the high 

 manurial value resulting from the large amount of vegetable 

 matter kept in and on the soil. This is especially desirable on 

 farms where the live stock is not sufficient to consume it, should 

 the clover be made into hay. Under these conditions an ex- 

 cellent rotation consists of maize, small grain, and mammoth 

 clover, each one year. In some sections the small grain may 

 be put in on the maize stubble without plowing (C. A. 128), 

 and thus the land is plowed only once in the rotation. The 

 clover may be pastured until June i with benefit to the crop 



