CRIMSON CLOVES 257 



nate freezing and thawing in the soil; or (c) the 

 land is too low in fertility to produce a sufficiently 

 vigorous growth in the plants. 



3. The mechanical effects upon the soil from 

 growing crimson clover on it are very marked, espe- 

 cially when it inclines to stiffness, owing to the 

 strong development of the root growth. 



4. When crimson clover has been sown in the 

 spring, a reasonably good growth is usually ob- 

 tained before midsummer, even as far north as the 

 Canadian boundary line, but since hot ' weather 

 checks further growth and frequently causes wilt- 

 ing in the plants, this variety is not equal to some 

 of the other varieties of clover for being sown at 

 that season. 



5. In the Southern States, crimson clover has 

 been found to render considerable service by aid- 

 ing in preventing land from washing in the winter 

 season. 



6. When plowed under in orchards, the work 

 should be done at an early rather than a late stage 

 in the growth of the plants, lest it should rob the 

 trees of their rightful share of the moisture. Be- 

 cause of this, in some instances, if not in all, the 

 plants should be buried before the season of full 

 bloom and sometimes before the blooms begin to 

 open. 



7. The seed is more certain to germinate while 

 yet enclosed in the chaff scales, and because of this, 

 where home-grown seed is used, it may be worth 

 while to secure it in this form by flailing out the 

 seed or treading it out with horses. 



