96 FODDER AND PASTURE PLANTS. 



CRIMSON CLOVER {Trifolium incarnatum L.) 



Plate 17; Seed, Plate 27, Fig. 29. 



Other English names: Scarlet Clover, Italian Clover, German Clover. 



Botanical description: Crimson Clover is an annual plant 

 with a strong taproot provided with the nodules characteristic of 

 all leguminous plants. From the crown of the root numerous up- 

 right stems develop which reach an average height of one or two feet. 

 They are soft in texture and covered with soft hairs. The leaflets 

 are somewhat similar in shape to those of common Red Clover, but 

 are shorter, broader, covered with short hairs and toothed in their 

 upper parts. The flowers are in a prolonged, spikelike head which 

 has a peculiar bluish green tint before flowering. The head, which 

 is from one to two inches long when fully developed, contains a great 

 number of flowers, the development of which gradually proceeds 

 from the base to the top. The flowers are rich scarlet or crimson 

 and somewhat longer than those of the common Red Clover. 



Geographical distribution: Crimson Clover is indigenous to 

 Europe where it occurs in France, Italy, Spain and in the valley of 

 the Danube. In many cases, however, it is doubtful whether the 

 plant is really wild or has only escaped from cultivation. Its cul- 

 tivation, which for a long time was confined to northern Italy, 

 southern France and the country around the Pyrenees, is now rapidly 

 spreading. The northern limit of the plant, which was approx- 

 imately northern Italy before its cultivation began, is now extended 

 to southern Sweden. In America it is grown in practically all the 

 eastern states of the Union, especially southward. In Canada it is 

 only grown to a limited extent and is scarcely found except in southern 

 Ontario and British Columbia, except as a cover crop in orchards. 



Cultural conditions: Crimson Clover is well adapted to poor 

 soils. This may be partly due to its strong root system, which en- 

 ables the plants to gather nourishment from a large area. On light, 

 sandy soils, where Red Clover would not thrive, Crimson Clover 

 may yield large crops. This is especially true if the plants are given 

 sufficient lime and water. It thrives best on sandy loams which 

 contain a rich supply of plant food, and on such soils, if the climate 

 is favourable, it will produce a luxuriant growth. On heavy or 

 moist cold clay the return is scanty. 



