336 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



however, has in a few cases been found injurious on account 

 of the balls of hairs from the heads which form in the stom- 

 ach or intestines. Crimson clover is a nitrogen gatherer. 

 It is not injured by moderate frosts, and is therefore a ni- 

 trogen conserver ; it is deep rooted and it grows so early 

 and so rapidly in spring that a large bulk of green material 

 may be turned under in season for planting corn and other 

 crops which are planted at about the same time. If sown in 

 spring crimson clover will make one or more good crops 

 upon suitable soil. In order to secure more than one it must, 

 however, be cut about as soon as it begins to blossom. If 

 allowed to ripen any seed it dies, and in any event it will 

 live but one season. Some recommend growing crimson 

 clover in this way in localities where when fall sown it is 

 winter-killed, but it cannot be regarded as particularly val- 

 uable save where it will pass through the winter. The quan- 

 tity of seed required is about twenty pounds per acre. 



The common, red, alsike and mammoth clovers are perhaps 

 not, properly speaking, catch-crops. They are, however, 

 valuable crops for purposes of soil improvement, and since 

 so much has been said in this paper upon that subject it 

 seems desirable to mention them. They are all deep rooted, 

 they take nitrogen from the air, they conserve nitrogen, they 

 serve for winter protection of the soil, and must be looked 

 upon as among our most valuable crops for soil improve- 

 ment. They are particularly deserving of attention on ac- 

 count of the large quantity of the different elements of plant 

 food left behind in their stubble and roots, as shown by the 

 table previously given. Methods of sowing and management 

 are too well understood to demand attention here. 



Sweet Clover. — This crop is as yet but little known and 

 cannot be said to have passed through the experimental stage 

 in this locality. It is believed, however, that it may prove 

 a valuable crop for soil improvement. It takes nitrogen from 

 the air, it is very deep rooted, it is hardy in winter and will 

 therefore conserve nitrogen and serve for soil protection, it 

 starts very early in the spring and grows with great rapidity. 

 On the 10th of June this year the average height in a field 

 upon the college farm was two and one-half feet, and at that 

 time it was increasing in height at the rate of an inch a day. 



