53 



richer in protein (]i;in most of the forage er()i)s, — far riclier 

 than the grasses; third, they enrich the soil in nitrogen, as 

 well as sub-soil it, so that the following crops are almost in- 

 variably good; fourth, in permanent mowings they ultimately 

 so enrich the soil in nitrogen that the grasses as well as the 

 clovers make vigorous growth. 



TiiE Kinds of Clovek. 

 Crimson Clover (Trifoliuiii Incariiatutn). 

 Crimson clover is an annual or a winter annual. ^ When- 

 ever crimson clover can be grown as a winter annual it is of 

 much value, but the peculiarities of our winters and espe- 

 cially of our springs are such that crimson clover is not gen- 

 erally successful as a winter annual. In localities where it 

 is hardy, its special value is due principally to the fact that 

 it starts into growth the following season much earlier than 

 the other clovers. Crimson clover may be grown in Massa- 

 chusetts as a spring-sown crop, but if it must be sown in the 

 spring it will not be earlier than the other clovers, and is 

 not likely to yield so heavily as they. It does not appear 

 likely, therefore, that crimson clover will prove of much, value 

 in our agriculture. 



Medium or Common Red Clover, and Mammoth Bed Clover. 

 These two kinds of clover are best described together, as 

 the peculiarities of each are best brought out when studied 

 in contrast with those of the other. These two kinds of 

 clover resemble each other very closely. Typical specimens 

 of the two show well-defined differences, but these two types 

 of clover seem to run together, and there are many forms 

 intermediate between the types. The product of commercial 

 samples of seed sold under the two names is often indistin- 

 guishable, even by experts. Typical specimens show the fol- 

 lowing differences: the leaflet of the red clover is nearly 

 round, comparatively smooth, with a whitish approximately 



I Those plants are designated winter annuals wliicli, when sown in late summer or 

 fall, make a moderate grrowth, but do not blossom that season; but which will pass 

 through the winter Buccessfull.y, blossom and form seed the following spring, and then 

 die. Winter rye is an example. 



