282 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION 



sands, and at the same time produces fair grazing. It spreads 

 rapidly and crowds out the common and worthless plants of the 

 neighborhood. It is an annual and dies down each year, leav- 

 ing its stems, leaves and roots to decay and enrich the soil. The 

 seed produced remains on the soil ready for the following year. 

 In starting the crop, scatter the seed broadcast and harrow 

 lightly. 



Crimson Clover. — This annual is most at home in the South 

 and along the Atlantic seaboard. It grows successfully as far 

 north as New Jersey and Long Island. It is sown in late sum- 

 mer or early fall and reaches maturity in the spring time of the 

 following year. In the rotation system crimson clover should 

 be grown as the catch crop. On preparing the soil the aim 

 should be to secure a fine, compact and moist seed-bed. If the 

 plowing be done just previous to seeding, the harrow and roller 

 should be freely used so as to secure a compact bed. From 5 to 

 10 pounds of seed should be sowed to the acre. 



Red Clover. — The seed may be sown broadcast by hand or 

 by means of a hand seeder or with an attachment to the grain 

 drill. From 5 to 10 pounds of seed are usually sown to the acre, 

 the latter quantity being preferable. Clover may be included in 

 any and all grass seedings. By the second year the clover disap- 

 pears and then timothy, red top or other grasses included in the 

 mixture are ready to start at their best. Its ability to grow in al- 

 most any place makes it a universal American crop. It can be 

 adjusted to almost any system of crop rotation, and for this 

 reason it should be more commonly grown than it is. The dairy 

 farm that neglects clover suffers a great loss, not only in the 

 admirable needs for the dairy stock, but through the fertility 

 that might be provided to the land when silage and other pasture 

 crops are grown. 



Alsike Clover. — This plant compared with common red 

 clover is characterized by a pinkish rather than a blush red tinge 

 of its blossoms. Its roots are smaller. It produces less pasture 

 af. er a season of maturity and also matures later than the com- 

 mon red varieties. It has a perennial rather than a biennial 

 habit of growth. It feeds somewhat near to the surface and 



