86 



THE SEED ANNUAI, OF TH:E 



CRIMSON CLOVER. 



TrifoJinni Incarnatuin. 



Crimson Clover, an annual variety, which is a native of a warm climate, has not been 

 grown here as extensively as it deserves to be. 



It has been highh- praised up as a forage plant, said to be equally as good for pasturage 

 as well as for mowing and to do better in poor worn out soil than any other variety. Our 

 experience though has taught us that in poor sandy land it will not thrive. 



It certainly has attracted a good deal of attention in the South the last few years; and 

 the reports from Experiment Stations of Louisiana and other Southern States speak highly 

 of it. but its true merits "are still in doubt. 



Crimson Clover has been grown for years in the South of France and Germany with 

 good results, and it is claimed that, owing to its quick growth it is preferable to other 

 varieties. 



As a forage plant it ma}- be mowed twice and then plowed under, thereby acting as a 

 fertilizer and renovating the exhausted soil. 



In the Southern States Crimson Clover should be sown in the months of October and 

 November. However, it ma}- be sown with good results as late as January or February 

 and will produce a fine crop. The demand for this variet}' of Clover has increased con- 

 siderably the past few years. 



From 8 to lo pounds should be sown per acre. 



BURR CI/OVER. 



Medicago Maculata. 



A variety brought from Chili to California and thence to the States under the name of 

 California Clover. It is often taken for Lucerne to which it bears some resemblance, but 

 this name is improperh- applied. The Burr Clover has only two or three yellow blossoms 

 in each cluster, while the Lucerne has many blue flowers in an elongated head. It 

 furnishes good grazing from February till April or May and is also suitable for hay. 



As there is no way of removing the seeds from the pods of Spotted Medick. it is 

 necessary to sow the burr like pods, about one half bushel per acre. The sowing should 

 be done earlj' in the Fall, so the pods may have time to rot and release the seed. Cover 

 very lightly. 



JAPAN CI^OVER. 



Lespedeza Striata, 



Ever since its introduction, this valuable forage plant has been steadily growing in 

 demand, although there has been so much confusion, lack of knowledge and confounding 

 with, or mistaking for it another worthless species, especially a small and worthless variety 

 of genuine clover, that we deem it necessary to give here a short history and description 

 of the plant, with as much of our experience in cultivating it as is necessary- to be suc- 

 cessful with. 



Japan Clover has been known to Botanists 

 for many generations in its own native habit 

 in China, Japan, and other parts of South 

 Eastern Asia as an excellent forage plant. 

 It spread rapidly over that entire country, 

 findirg soil and climate congenial, and in 

 but a short time occupied all waste places, 

 and to-day every available spot is densely 

 covered with it. 



In 1849 the plant appeared first in South 

 Carolina. How it was brought there is not 

 know, evidently the seed had been brought 

 accidently with some goods from China; it 

 found suitable soil and grew there and mul- 

 tiplied rapidly. The plant became in our 

 country of a dwarfish, bush like habit, re- 

 ceived the name of Bush Clover, under 

 which name it is known to a good many to- 

 day yet. 



Since its appearance in the United States 

 Japan Clover has multiplied wonderfully; 

 it commenced its westward invasion, simul- 

 taneously extending its conquests northward Japan Clover. 



