240 CLOVERS 



summer or early autumn, growth is completed by 

 the advent of the following summer. It is, there- 

 fore, pre-eminently a catch crop, and because of 

 this, when conditions admit of it, serves a purpose 

 in American agriculture, which can be served by 

 none of the other varieties of clover that are now 

 grown. It has much power to grow in cool weather, 

 when the clovers are practically dormant. It does 

 not cease to grow until the ground has become 

 frozen, and as soon as the frost leaves the soil 

 growth begins at once; hence, the greater relative 

 value this plant has for areas. in which the winters 

 are mild. 



Crimson clover is much relished by farm animals, 

 whether used as pasture, soiling food, silage or hay. 

 Under some conditions it may be pastured autumn 

 and spring, and even through much of the winter. 

 As a soiling plant, its value is high, not only be- 

 cause it is a legume, but because it comes in season 

 at a time when it may be fed with winter rye used as 

 soiling. But the period is short during which it 

 furnishes soiling food. Its value as hay will al- 

 ways be lessened by the difficulty in curing it so early 

 in the season, and because of the danger from feed- 

 ing it to horses when cut at a too advanced stage 

 of growth. It is much in favor for furnishing 

 chicken pasture in winter. 



As a catch crop crimson clover may be made to 

 do duty in seasons in which other clover crops may 

 have failed. As a cover crop or a mulch for or- 

 chards, it is in high favor, as the growth which it 

 produces protects the roots of the same. But its 



