CRIMSON CLOVER AND OTHER ANNUALS 433 



furnish succulent green feed for a period of 2 to 5 weeks, 

 especially if both early and late varieties be used. 



As a green manure or cover crop, crimson clover is 

 especially valuable because of the early date at which it 

 can be plowed under, thus permitting corn and other crops 

 to be planted in time. 



Only two other legumes can be used in the same way and 

 for the same purpose as crimson clover, yellow trefoil 

 and hairy vetch. Trefoil does not produce 'nearly so 

 much herbage; while hairy vetch does not mature as 

 early in spring, and the cost of seeding is considerably 

 higher. 



523. Seed-production. Crimson clover is harvested 

 for seed as soon as perfectly ripe. As the seeds shatter 

 easily, it is best to mow early in the morning or when 

 slightly moist, using either a mowing machine or a self- 

 rake reaper. In drying, care is necessary to avoid loss by 

 shattering, and to this end it is usually cured in small 

 bunches. If the clover becomes wet from rain, the seed 

 will sprout promptly, and this may be a source of serious 

 loss. The unhulled seed may be secured by thrashing or 

 by flailing. 



To harvest seed for home use, there has long been used 

 a device consisting essentially of a platform or box on the 

 front of which is a comb, that may be raised or lowered, 

 the whole mounted on wheels. This device is used when 

 the seeds are ripe and dry. The most efficient of these 

 combs is said to secure about 90 per cent of the seed. 



The yield is said to average about 6 bushels to an acre. 

 In Europe the yields are given as 250 to 450 pounds to an 

 acre. 



524. Seed. Seed of crimson clover (Fig. 49) is larger 

 and more rounded than most other clovers. Fresh seed 



2F 



