8 LEAFLET 16 0, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



Seed Production 



Crimson clover is a prolific seed-producing plant and yields of 5 to 

 10 bushels per acre are common, depending upon the thickness of the 

 stand, the amount of growth that is produced, and the care exercised 

 in harvesting the seed. The florets are self-fertile, but bees are effec- 

 tive in tripping and transferring the pollen, with a consequent increase 

 in the number of seed per head. The placing of colonies of honeybees 

 adjacent to blooming fields will effectively increase pollination. More 

 seed is usually produced on soils of medium fertility than on rich soils, 

 since fertile soils seem to stimulate the growth of stems and leaves 

 at the expense of flower-head development, 



Large yields and ease of harvesting crimson clover seed are the 

 principal reasons why crimson clover is such an ideal legume crop. 



Figure t 



Farmers may save seed with very little expense other than their own 

 labor. When the seed heads are mature they readily shatter and are 

 easily harvested either by hand stripping or by using horse-drawn home- 

 made strippers. One bushel of unhulled seed contains about 2 pounds 

 of hulled seed, and although bulky in nature, it can be easily stored on 

 the farm until fall. 



When the seed is mature the crop is cut with a mower, which may 

 be equipped with a bunching or windrowing attachment (fig. 6) or it 

 may be harvested with a combine. During wet seasons difficulties in 

 combining the seed from standing plants may be experienced. Under 

 such conditions the plants may be cut and windrowed and then 

 threshed by the combine from the windrow. As crimson clover shat- 

 ters easily when ripe, cutting with the mower when the heads are 

 damp with dew or rain is recommended. If allowed to stand too long 

 after it is ripe a beating rain will shatter much of the seed. After a 

 few days of curing, the seed is hulled with an ordinary clover huller or 

 a grain separator equipped with hulling attachments. The less the 

 clover is handled, the less seed will be lost by shattering. 



Troublesome weeds are encountered in growing crimson clover seed ; 

 field peppergrass (Lepidium campestre) and wintercress (Barbarea 

 praecox) are probably the worst, as their separation from the clover 

 seed is difficult. Little barley (Hordeum pusillum) is objectionable in 

 unhulled seed, and the use of unhulled seed will naturally increase the 

 prevalence of this weed. 



U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1938 



For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D. C. - Price 5 cents 



