LEGUMES 207 



II. RED CLOVER 



266. Importance of red clover. Red clover is believed to 

 have been domesticated within comparatively recent times, and 

 to have originated either in western Asia or in eastern Europe. 

 It was introduced into England about three hundred years ago 

 and a hundred years later was brought to America, where its 

 distribution and use are very general. 



The value of red clover can hardly be overestimated, since 

 over a large part of the United States it is the only crop gen- 

 erally used which has the power of utilizing the abundant supply 

 of nitrogen in the air and adding this element to the soil. Also 

 the physical condition of the soil is greatly improved by growing 

 clover upon it, because the clover plant loosens and aerates the 

 soil thoroughly and deeply. Red clover, being a biennial, is 

 well adapted to use in short rotations, and this, together with 

 its high value as a feed for all classes of live stock, is largely 

 responsible for the important place it has in agriculture. 



267. Distribution and adaptation. Red clover is particularly 

 adapted to the area north of the Ohio River and east of the 

 Missouri River. It is grown to some extent in every state of 

 the Union. Red clover will grow on almost any soil of reason- 

 able fertility, but it is difficult to secure a satisfactory stand 

 and growth on soils that are low in lime or phosphorus, or on 

 soils that are acid or water-soaked. Land which is good for 

 corn is usually good for red clover. It grows best on fertile, 

 friable, loamy soils, well supplied with lime, phosphorus, and 

 potassium. 



268. Getting a stand. It is safe to estimate that half the 

 sowings of red clover fail. Most failures are due to lack of 

 sufficient moisture in the surface soil to sustain the young 

 clover plants. This lack may arise by allowing the nurse crop 

 with which the clover was sown to mature, thus exhausting the 

 soil, or because the soil is so low in organic matter that it has 

 lost a part of its capacity to hold water. Again, the absence of 

 sufficient lime in the soil or the presence of too much acid 



