160 HEARINGS BEFORE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE. 
lot of varieties mixed together, as much mixed as varieties of wheat. 
The same is true in the case of clover. We know there are some late- 
maturing plants, and also in the case of timothy; and we are working 
on that kind of plant. 
Mr. Henry. Were you ever in communication with Mr. Olcott? He 
is an expert on grasses. 
Mr. Sprtuman. Yes; I know of his work. 
Mr. Henry. Speaking of the different varieties of timothy, he has 
potted a large number. . 
Mr. Sprutman. Yes. And of Kentucky blue grass he told me the 
other day he had 232 varieties of bluegrass. I have a friend up in the 
State of Washington who has 15 varieties. But Mr. Olcott says he 
has 232. In the case of blue grass and timothy they come through 
the seeds strictly, but from clover they do not. But we know how to 
make them come through the seeds. 
Mr. Haucren. What kind of seed would you sow on a low peat 
ground ? 
Mr. Sprttman. Ordinarily, for low ground I would recommend red 
top and Alsike clover. I would mix all the wet land grasses together, 
timothy, and blue grass, andall. Nowone other class of clover which 
is very important, and which we are working successfully with, is the 
crimson clover. It is introduced from Germany. It is sometimes 
called German clover. 
Mr. Lams. It is called German clover in my country. 
Mr. Sprtitman. Yes; it comes also from Sweden and Norway. Itis 
a good hay, and very prolific, and it is a magnificent fertilizer. 
The CoarrMan. We do not use it asa hay, but as a fertilizer. 
Mr. Sritiman. Its best use is as a fertilizer. 
Mr. Lams. It is good feed when green? 
Mr. Spreuman. Yes; but there is this peculiar thing about it. When 
horses eat the hay it makes witch balls in their stomachs. The ballsare 
as round as a ball and as hard as a stone, and these balls collect in the 
stomach of the cattle and are very detrimental to the digestive func- 
tions. The flowers make the witch balls, and it is dangerous to have 
the horses or cattle eat it. 
The Cuarrman. Is that the reason why clover is not considered good 
for horses? 
Mr. Sprutman. Yes; if clover is wellcured it may be good for horses, 
but it is not always well cured. 
Mr. Henry. Can you tell us under what conditions crimson clover 
is superior to the other clover? 
Mr. Sprtuman. It will grow in the South where other clover will not 
grow. Itis avery important matter to fertilize an orchard properly, 
and these clovers produce nitrogen more cheaply than you can buy it. 
And if you have your crop of apples practically maturing you can 
sow the clover and it will keep the ground from washing, and next 
spring you turn that under and fertilize your orchard. That is a 
valuable use for crimson clover. 
Mr. Henry. As a hay crop, how is it? 
Mr. Sritiman. It is not superior to the red clover except where 
they can not grow the red clover. 
ow we have another variety of clover. We havea patch of it about 
the size of the dimensions of the top of this table. It grows high and 
looks as if it would yield 3 tons to the acre. I have been unable 
