414 THE CLOVERS 



as alfalfa, and this is quite necessary in regions where it has never 

 been grown. It happens, however, that it may be inoculated with 

 the same bacteria as alfalfa, or by the use of soil from old alfalfa 

 fields. 



CRIMSON CLOVER 



Crimson clover is a native of the warmer portion of Europe, 

 occurring under favorable conditions as far north as England. It 

 is cultivated in this region at present, and was probably introduced 

 into the United States about a hundred years ago. It is only within 

 the last thirty years, however, that it has come to be recognized as 

 having much agricultural value in the United States. 



Description. Crimson clover, as its name indicates, has a con- 

 spicuous crimson or scarlet flower head. It is, strictly speaking, an 

 annual plant, but in agricultural practice is generally used as a 

 winter annual, being sown in the fall, and harvested early the next 

 season. 



Adaptation* Crimson clover is not very cold-resistant, and in 

 the eastern part of the United States is very seldom sown north of 

 New Jersey. However, on the Pacific Coast it will grow as far 

 north as Oregon and Washington. While crimson clover prefers 

 limestone soils, it will grow on soils quite low in lime content, and 

 seems to be one of the best plants to grow on sandy soils. 



Crimson clover also does well in the Gulf States if sown early 

 enough to make a good growth before winter, but the dry weather in 

 late summer often makes seeding difficult. The region where 

 crimson clover is at present of greatest importance is New Jersey and 

 Maryland southward to the Carolinas. Here it has come to be a very 

 important green manuring crop, as -it can be sown in the fall, after a 

 cultivated crop such as potatoes, or in the corn field, will make a 

 good winter growth, and can be turned under by May of the 

 following year for green manure. 



Seed and Seeding. Crimson clover seed is large, usually about 

 twice or three times the size of red clover. It grows very easily, and 

 twelve to twenty pounds per acre is the usual rate of seeding. The 

 seed is largely imported from Europe at present, though it produces 

 a good seed crop in America, but the business of harvesting the seed 



