CHAPTER XVIII 

 CRIMSON CLOVER AND OTHER ANNUALS 



THE annual clovers and clover-like plants are much less 

 important agriculturally than the perennials. They are 

 variously used as hay, pasture and green manure crops. 

 Their greatest use is as winter cover crops. 



CRIMSON CLOVER (Trifolium incarnatum) 



511. Botany. Crimson clo- 

 ver (Fig. 48) is also known from 

 the color of its flowers as scarlet, 

 carnation and incarnate clover; 

 also from its reputed origin as 

 German, Italian and French 

 clover. 



The plant is native to south- 

 ern Europe, occurring as far 

 north as England. The wild 

 plant (variety Molinerii) has 

 yellow-white flowers, except one 

 form in which they are rose- 

 colored. The cultivated plant 

 is taller, more vigorous and less 

 hairy than the wild. 



512. Agricultural history. - 

 Crimson clover was probably 

 first cultivated in southern 

 France and adjacent Switzer- 



426 



FIG. 48. Crimson clover. 



