246 CLOVERS 



the land; and since its growth is cniefly or entirely 

 made in the late summer, autumn, winter and early 

 spring, that is to say, when the land is not other- 

 wise occupied, the only hindrances to using it any- 

 where in the rotation are such as arise from the 

 nature of the weather, the mechanical condition of 

 the land and the needs of the crops that are to fol- 

 low. For instance, at the usual season for sowing 

 it, the weather may be so dry as to preclude the hope 

 of successful germination in the seed. This influ- 

 ence may also make it impossible to bring the land 

 into that mechanical condition which makes a good 

 seed-bed without undue labor, and ordinarily it would 

 not be necessary to have crimson clover precede an- 

 other leguminous crop ; since the latter, under many 

 conditions, can secure its own supply of nitrogen. 

 To this there may be some exceptions. There may 

 be instances, as on light, porous and leechy soils, 

 when it might be proper to grow crimson clover as 

 an aid in securing a stand of the medium red variety, 

 or in growing a crop of peas for the summer market. 

 Ordinarily, however, this crop is grown to increase 

 the supply of plant food in the soil for crops which 

 require nitrogen, and to give soils more or less 

 porous, increased power to hold moisture and ap- 

 plied fertilizers. It is probably seldom grown to 

 improve the mechanical condition of stiff soils, 

 since on these it grows slowly. Some other plants 

 can do this more effectively. It is pre-eminently the 

 catch crop for the orchardist and the market gar- 

 dener, and yet it may be made the catch crop also 

 pf the farmer, under certain conditions. 



