158 



Crimson Clover. 



Crimson clover, also called scarlet clover and Italian or German 

 clover, grows from 1 to 2 feet nigh, with flower heads from 1£ to 2 

 inches long and of a bright crimson colour. Though not gener illy- 

 grown in the North it made a growth of 26 inches at the Maine Station. 

 It thrives on soil too light for other clovers. In the South it is valuable 

 on non-calcareous, sandy, or light clay soils. It has been highly recom- 

 mended for green manuring and its value for that purpose has been 

 studied especially by the Delaware Experiment Station. That Station 

 reported that in 1891 2,340 acres of crimson clover were grown in Del- 

 aware, 1,277 acres being used for green manuring. It is sown both in 

 the open fields and in orchids. The quantity of seed used depend* 

 upon the aims of the sower, varying between 5 and 15 pounds per acre. 

 It is also sown among corn, and with a broadcasting machine 4 acres per 

 hour can be seeded. It may be grown either as a winter crop, cover- 

 ing the soil during September, October and November, or as a summer 

 crop. Asa winter crop it may either precede or follow the Southern 

 cowpea vine. In Delaware a very large acreage of field corn is sown 

 to crimson clover immediately after the cultivation of the corn is finished 

 for the season. 



Crimson clover i9 sown in Delaware the latter part of July or during 

 August. In the South the seed may be sown from August till the 

 middle of September or even later in extreme southern latitudes. It 

 is important that considerable growth should be made before winter. 

 On the other hand, to obtain a good stand, one must wait for a suitable 

 season. It is not necessary to prepare the land especially for the clover 

 crop, but the seed may be sown in the fields of cotton, corn, or vege- 

 tables immediately after the cultivation and without covering. If 

 clover is the only crop a light brushing or rolling is in order. The 

 seed may also be sown among the vines of a pea crop. Crimson clover 

 begins its growth as the peas die, and these two renovating crops- 

 supplv a very large amount of organic matter to the soil. 



Failure to secure a stand of crimson clover is frequent, due some- 

 times to the seed and sometimes to the season. The newly germinated 

 plants are easily killed by a scorching sun. On stubble land a catch 

 may be secured by harrowing deeply and then sowing the seed and 

 rolling or harrowing lightly. 



In Delaware crimson clover can be cut for hay or for silage early in 

 May. In the South it blooms in April. A yield of from 1 to 2 tons of 

 excellent hay may be secured from very thin land. The hay is taken 

 off in time to allow the use of the field for other summer crops. In 

 Delaware some farmers, while ploughing under the green crop in 

 orchards, turn the furrows so as to leave the heads of clover above 

 ground. These heads bear seed and thus afford a stand the next year. 

 In cutting for hay in orchards other farmers leave strips of uncut 

 clover along the rows of trees. From these strips the seed is scattered 

 for the next year's crop. 



Crimson clover may follow grain or grass as well as cultivated crops. 

 After cultivated crops it usually makes a good catch with slight 

 expense. Orchards on thin soils may be benefited by ploughing in 

 crimson clover for several years in succession. On rich soil and for 

 some crops it is possible to incorporate too much organic matter with 



