\y 



Growing Legumes for Soil Betterment 



Along the Atlantic coast as far north as New Jersey and 

 south at least to Georgia, crimson clover, frequently called 

 German clover, thrives as a winter annual. Like all the 

 legumes it stores up much nitrogen and greatly enriches 

 the soil in this element. This crop deserves a much wider 

 field of usefulness than has yet been accorded it. In the 

 northern part of its territory it should be sown in July. 

 In the South, September is supposed to be the best time to 

 sow it. It is best adapted to sowing in corn or cotton. In 

 sections where it has not previously been grown it fre- 

 quently fails, apparently from lack of its proper bacteria. 

 It is therefore well to inoculate the seed when it is sown 

 the first time. 



This crop furnishes valuable winter pasture, makes 

 good hay if cut when just coming into full flower, and is 

 valuable as a green feed in spring. It helps to fill the gap 

 in the soiling system between green wheat and early corn. 

 Perhaps its greatest usefulness is in a green manure. It 

 may be plowed under any time in the spring and be fol- 

 lowed by corn or potatoes. 



In this connection, the practice of a farmer near 

 Hagerstown, Md., is of interest. Ten years ago he be- 

 gan sowing crimson clover in corn at the last plowing, 

 covering the seed with the cultivator, and using 10 

 pounds of seed to the acre. In the spring the clover was 

 plowed under and another crop of corn planted. Ten 

 consecutive crops of corn have been taken from this field, 

 a crop of crimson clover being plowed under each spring. 

 The yield of corn has increased during that time from 



96 



