MAMMOTH CLOVER 235 



to seed in it by cutting them off witfi tKe scythe. 

 When not too plentiful they may be removed with 

 the spud. Among the more troublesome weeds that 

 infest mammoth clover are the Canada thistle 

 {Cirsium arvense), the plantain (Plantago lanceo- 

 lata), and in some instances the horse nettle 

 {Solatium Carolinense) and spring nightshade 

 (Solanum). 



The yields of the clover seed will be much influ- 

 enced by the character of the weather. Excessive 

 rankness in the crop and excessive rainfall during 

 the blossoming season are adverse to abundant seed 

 production. But the seed crop is more injured by 

 drought than by too much rain. When injured by 

 drought the growth will not be sufficiently strong, 

 or, if it is, the blossoms will be of a pale red tint. 

 Warm winds while the seed is forming are also ad- 

 verse to seed production, since they cause the crop to 

 mature too quickly. Some experience will enable 

 the capable observer to forecast with no little cer- 

 tainty the probable yield of the seed. If the indi- 

 cations point to a yield of seed less than 2 bushels 

 per acre, it is deemed more profitable, as a rule, to 

 cut the crop for hay. Large heads of a rich dark 

 purple shade accompanied by vigor in the entire plant 

 are indicative of abundant seed production. 



The crop is ready for being harvested when a 

 majority of the heads have ripened so far that the 

 bloom on them is all gone and the shade of color 

 in the head has not yet become brown. If left until 

 a inajority of the heads are brown many of them 

 will break off while being harvested. The crop 

 is usually cut with a self-rake reaper, but it may 



