214 ALFALFA FARMING IN AMERICA. 



into bloom. Thus the land may be prepared very 

 much earlier for its destined crop of alfalfa. 



Alfalfa After Crimson Clover. — ^Where the cli- 

 mate is mild enough to permit its growth crimson 

 clover forms an admirable preparatory crop for fall 

 sown alfalfa. The subject is mentioned in an earlier 

 chapter, but I will here sum up its advantages and 

 manner of use. Crimson clover is an annual. Sown 

 in the late summer it grows during the fall and 

 whenever it can during warm days in winter. It 

 makes very rapid growth in spring, blooms in May, 

 ripens seed and dies. It is not a good clover for for- 

 age unless fed off green. Half ripe crimson clover 

 heads are dangerous when fed to animals, making 

 "hair balls ' ' in their stomachs and killing them some- 

 times. A fairly good crop of crimson clover will 

 yield to the soil as much nitrogen as would cost $15 

 per acre, if one were to purchase it in the bag. It 

 comes off or goes under early enough to make easy 

 the preparation of a good seedbed. There is seldom 

 danger of insufficient moisture when crimson clover 

 is the crop preceding alfalfa, supposing the land to 

 be well managed after the clover is ready to turn 

 under. 



On the other hand crimson clover does not thrive 

 well without inoculation, and natural inoculation 

 seems absent except along the Atlantic seaboard. 

 Doubtless artificial soil inoculation would result in 

 great gain with this plant elsewhere. Crimson clo- 

 ver provides a great deal of very valuable humus. 



Mr. Jack's Use of Crimson Clover. — -In eastern 



