,transcriber ,note ,text emphasis denoted as ,italics and ,bold4 ,,farmers' ,,bulletin #aadb ,,united ,,states ,,department ,,of ,,agriculture ,,growing ,,crimson ,,clover ,crimson ,clover is a handsome fall-planted annual1 widely cultivated in the ,middle ,atlantic and ,southeastern ,states for forage1 a cover crop1 and green manure4 ,crimson clover is commonly sown in corn at the last cultivation4 ,if the soil is heavy1 a better practice is to sow after a crop of small grain or on other land which can be specially prepared4 ,crimson clover will grow on poorer soil than most clovers and is not particularly dependent upon lime4 ,for this reason it has been widely used for restoring the productivity of soils which have been abused4 ,a more important function is to maintain crop yields on soils which are already moderately rich4 ,the most common difficulty in growing crimson clover is the killing of the young stands by drought4 ,this is best prevented by the preparation of a fine1 moist1 and firmly compacted seed bed4 ,august and ,september are the best months for sowing crimson clover1 the exact date depending upon the condition of the soil4 ,either hulled or unhulled seed may be used1 the latter giving somewhat greater certainty of a stand4 ,crimson clover is often sown with a nurse crop of buckwheat or cowpeas1 to protect it from the sun4 ,a light covering of straw is also effective4 ,combinations of crimson clover with oats1 hairy vetch1 or other fall-sown forage crops give somewhat higher yields and a surer stand than crimson clover alone4 ,no insects trouble crimson clover seriously1 and the only severe disease is the stem-rot1 or wilt4 ,contribution from the ,bureau of ,plant ,industry ,,wm4 ,a4 ,,taylor1 ,chief ,washington1 ,d4 ,c4 ,august1 #aibj ,,growing ,,crimson ,,clover4#a ,l4 ,w4 ,kephart1 ,scientific ,assistant1 ,office of ,forage-,crop ,investigations4 #a ,this bulletin is a revision of ,farmers' ,bulletin #eej1 entitled ,crimson ,clover3 ,growing the ,crop1 by ,j4 ,m4 ,westgate1 formerly ,agronomist in ,charge of ,clover ,investigations1 ,office of ,forage-,crop ,investigations4 ,the illustrations and some of the subject matter of the old bulletin are retained in the present issue4 ,,contents4 ,page4 ,history and adaptations #d ,varieties #e ,use in the rotation #f ,seeding in intertilled crops #f ,seeding after an early-maturing crop #g ,requirements for obtaining a stand #h ,soils #i ,preparation of the seed bed #aj ,fertilizers #aa ,lime #ab ,inoculation #ac ,seeding #ac ,time of seeding #ac ,rate of seeding #ad ,methods of seeding #ad ,choice of seed #af ,unhulled seed #af ,use of a nurse crop #ag ,seed mixtures #ah ,treatment of the stand #bj ,maladies #bj dropcap3 ,,crimson ,,clover is an annual or winter annual true clover1 resembling common red clover in size and general appearance1 the most noticeable difference being the flower heads1 which are long1 narrow1 and pointed instead of short1 spherical1 and compact 7fig4 #a74 ,the individual flowers of this clover are commonly of a rich scarlet color1 and as the heads are borne mostly on the ends of the stems1 a field of crimson clover in full bloom presents a strikingly brilliant appearance4 ,because of the color of the flowers1 crimson clover is often termed scarlet clover1 although it is also known1 less commonly1 as ,french clover1 ,italian clover1 ,german clover1 incarnate clover1 and annual clover4 ,it is the only annual true clover that is of more than incidental agricultural importance in the eastern ,united ,states4 ,probably the most important characteristic of crimson clover is its ability to grow and make its crop during the fall and early spring1 when the land is not occupied by the ordinary summer-grown crops4 ,in sections where it succeeds1 it can be sown following a grain crop or in an intertilled crop in late summer and is ready to harvest for hay1 to pasture1 or to turn under as green manure in time to plow the land for spring-seeded crops1 such as corn or cotton4 ,south of central ,delaware it may even be cut for seed and the stubble plowed under in time for seeding a quick-maturing strain of corn4 ,because it can be grown during the offseason of the year1 crimson clover is one of the most economical legumes for green manuring1 and it has been largely used for that purpose in the regions to which it is adapted4 ,the many uses to which this crop may be put merit a careful study of the best methods of establishing a stand of this clover on the farm4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #a4--;,a single plant of crimson clover4 ,,history ,,and ,,adaptations4 ,crimson clover is a native of ,europe1 where it is cultivated as a forage and green-manuring crop in ,italy1 ,france1 ,spain1 ,germany1 ,austria1 and ,great ,britain4 ,large quantities of crimson-clover seed are exported from ,europe to the ,united ,states1 especially from the districts of central ,france1 where crimson clover is the premier leguminous forage plant4 ,crimson clover was introduced into this country as early as #ahah1 and the seed was widely distributed by the ,united ,states ,patent ,office in #ahee4 ,the plant was at first regarded more for its ornamental value than as a forage plant1 however1 and it was not until about #ahhj that its value for agricultural purposes began to be appreciated4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #b4--,map of a part of the ,united ,states1 showing the region where crimson clover is most widely grown4 ,at present crimson clover is grown most widely in the lighter sandy areas of the ,atlantic ,coastal ,plain1 where the soil is not very rich and the winters are not severe4 7,fig4 #b47 ,the plant does not withstand either extreme cold or extreme heat1 and its culture is therefore limited to regions which enjoy at some time during the year a long period of relatively mild1 moist weather4 ,ordinarily1 this clover does not survive the winter in latitudes north of southern ,pennsylvania1 while in some of the ,southern ,states it is frequently killed by dry1 hot weather in the fall or spring4 ,it succeeds well in the humid regions near the ,gulf of ,mexico and in the ,pacific ,northwest1 but in these areas it is not widely grown4 ,normally1 crimson clover is a winter annual comparable to winter wheat2 that is1 it is planted in the fall1 lies more or less dormant over winter1 grows rapidly in the spring1 and dies1 after going to seed1 early in the summer4 ,where the summers are not too hot it can be planted in the spring and grown as a summer crop1 but for this purpose other clovers are usually preferred4 ,,varieties4 ,crimson clover is exceedingly variable both in color of flower and in time of maturity4 ,these variations are particularly noticeable in fields planted from a mixed lot of seed1 the flowers presenting a range in color from nearly pure white to a deep purplish red and the seeds a difference in date of ripening of more than a month4 ,since crimson clover is thought to be mainly self-pollinated1 it is easy to fix these qualities by selection and to establish definite varieties4 ,in ,europe six or seven different varieties of crimson clover are recognized and sold by seedsmen1 varying from extra early crimson flowered to1 extra late white flowered and from very hardy to non-hardy4 ,by the use of a succession of these varieties the ,european farmer is able to spread his harvest over six or seven weeks instead of having it concentrated within a few days1 as in ,america4 ,similarly1 the culture of the plant has been extended northward from ,italy to ,sweden by means of hardy strains4 ,a wild form of crimson clover having yellowish flowers and hairy foliage occurs in southern and eastern ,europe and in ,england1 but it is not of economic value4 ,in ,america no sharply defined varieties of crimson clover are recognized1 except a white-blooming variety which is sold in the ,south and is two weeks later than the ordinary crimson-flowered sort4 ,hardy strains have been developed and used in a small way in ,massachusetts and ,ohio1 but these are not commercially available4 ,,use ,,in ,,the ,,rotation4 ,,seeding ,,in ,,intertilled ,,crops4 ,in former years a large percentage of the crimson-clover acreage was seeded in corn or other intertilled crops at or shortly after the time of the last cultivation4 ,in most of the crimson-clover area it is possible to make such a seeding1 obtain a good growth during the fall and early spring1 and mow or plow under the clover in time1 for breaking up the land for another crop of corn4 ,this has been the standard method of growing this clover1 and it is still the leading practice in many of the older sections4 ,corn in the summer with crimson clover in the winter is a cheap and convenient method of growing a cash crop and a restorative crop the same year1 and the reputation of crimson clover as a crop increaser is largely based on this simple rotation4 ,instances are by no means rare where the yield of corn has been gradually increased from #aj bushels per acre to as high as #gj bushels by this means4 ,the difficulty with this method is the possibility of the stand of young clover failing through drought4 ,the growing corn makes a heavy demand on the soil moisture1 and if there is not enough moisture for both clover and corn the latter gets the larger share and the tender clover plants are likely to succumb4 ,because of the risk involved1 farmers in the upland sections are seeking other and more reliable methods of seeding1 and the sowing of crimson clover in corn is gradually decreasing4 ,where the danger from fall drought is not serious1 crimson clover may be sown in corn at the time of the last cultivation or when the corn leaves have just begun to wither4 ,south of central ,virginia there is likely to be much hot weather after the corn is laid by1 in which case it is best to delay the seeding of the clover until after the first rain4 ,the appearance of a field of crimson clover seeded in corn the previous summer is shown in figure #c4 ,south of southern ,virginia crimson clover can be seeded in cotton1 provided the field is free from crab-grass and other weeds and the soil is not too dry4 ,in the extreme north of the cotton belt the seed may be sown at the last working of the cotton2 farther south this occurs too early and it is necessary to wait for a rain1 which often comes at about the time of the first picking4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #c4--;,crimson clover in an old cornfield4 ,the clover was seeded in the corn at the last cultivation4 ,a fodder stack is to be observed in the middle foreground4 ,the cornstalks have been removed to avoid difficulty in mowing the clover4 ,crimson clover may be seeded in practically any of the cultivated truck crops which receive their last cultivation from #h to #ab weeks before the first frost4 ,it is not practicable to seed the clover in late potatoes1 sweet potatoes1 or other root crops1 as the digging in the fall practically destroys the clover4 ,ordinarily1 crimson clover does not succeed when sown in cowpeas1 sorghum1 or watermelons1 owing to the heavy shade cast by these crops4 ,it can1 however1 be seeded in tobacco1 tomatoes1 cultivated soy beans1 and cantaloupes4 ,,seeding ,,after ,,an ,,early-,,maturing ,,crop4 ,seeding crimson clover in an intertilled crop is successful mostly on sandy soils1 which can easily be prepared for seeding even in mid-summer4 ,on clay soils and in weedy fields this method of seeding is likely to be unsatisfactory4 ,such soils are usually hard and dry in ,august and can with difficulty be brought into condition for a seed bed1 with the result that a large percentage of such seedings fail4 ,a better plan on clay soils1 and on sandy soils in many cases1 is to seed the crimson clover on specially prepared ground from which all other crops have been removed4 ,such ground can be made as fine and firm as desired4 ,furthermore1 the clover after planting does not have to compete with another crop for the soil moisture4 ,this method is somewhat more troublesome than planting in intertilled crops1 but the greater certainty of getting a stand more than offsets the greater cost4 ,planting crimson clover on specially prepared ground has extended the culture of the plant to regions where it was not hitherto grown and is increasing the reliability of the crop in sections where it has been long established4 ,in the ordinary rotation1 crimson clover follows a crop of small grain4 ,however1 it may follow any crop that is removed #h to #aj weeks before frost1 or it may be seeded on fallow ground4 ,ground from which early potatoes have been removed is especially favorable for the establishment of a stand of this clover4 ,the residual effect of the fertilizers used on potatoes is partially responsible for this1 while the well-settled seed bed1 which requires only leveling and harrowing1 also presents favorable conditions for the crimson-clover seedlings4 ,in many parts of the ,south crimson clover can be seeded in corn stubble if an early variety of corn has been used4 ,although there is some risk that the clover may not make enough growth before winter if seeding is delayed until the corn is harvested1 the danger of losing the stand is not as great as if the clover were seeded earlier1 while the corn was standing4 ,crimson clover is sometimes seeded after a grass or clover crop if the rainfall in ,july is sufficient to cause the sod to decay4 ,in the far ,south it can be planted after peanuts1 while in all sections it can be sown as a catch crop on land where cotton or other crops have died early in the season4 ,,requirements ,,for ,,obtaining ,a ,,stand4 ,probably the difficulty most commonly experienced in growing crimson clover is failure to obtain a satisfactory stand4 ,sometimes the seed does not germinate well2 more commonly good germination is secured1 but the seedlings wither and die before they can become established4 ,frequently not more than #ej per cent of the plants survive the first three weeks1 while a complete failure of the crop is a common risk even in the sections where crimson clover is most widely grown4 ,the most common cause of failure to obtain a stand is hot1 dry weather after planting4 ,the seedlings of crimson clover are tender1 succulent1 and shallow rooted and are easily killed by lack of moisture4 ,unfortunately1 in most of the crimson-clover area the weather during late ,august and early ,september is very likely to be hot and droughty1 making the planting of the clover at that time rather hazardous4 ,some farmers attempt to avoid this difficulty by planting either in early summer or in ,october1 after the fall rains2 there is danger1 however1 that the plants will make too much or too little growth to survive the winter4 ,in the long run it is probably better to plant at the regular time and depend upon thorough preparation of the seed bed to offset any deficiency in the rainfall4 ,,soils4 ,crimson clover can be grown successfully on almost any type of soil if it is reasonably rich1 well drained1 and supplied with organic matter and the proper inoculating bacteria4 ,probably two-thirds of the crimson-clover acreage is found on the sandy soils of the ,atlantic ,coastal ,plain1 but the crop is not necessarily restricted to sandy soils and is in fact increasing in importance on the red-clay soils of the ,piedmont region and in the limestone valleys of ,virginia and ,tennessee4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #d4--;a crimson-clover failure on ground too poor in humus4 ,crimson clover has been an important factor in increasing yields on soils that have been abused1 but it is not a crop for land which is naturally very poor4 ,it does not do well on rough1 newly cleared areas1 raw subsoil1 ,hard1 dry clay1 or sterile sand4 7,fig4 #d47 ,for such soils soy beans1 cowpeas1 and velvet beans are better suited and should be used for the first three or four years until crimson clover can be successfully grown4 ,crimson clover can be made to grow on poor soils1 provided they are specially prepared by liming1 manuring1 and inoculating4 ,in general1 however1 crimson clover is a crop for maintaining soils which are already fairly productive rather than one for inducing productivity in soils where it is quite lacking4 ,if there is any doubt whether the soil is suitable for crimson clover1 a small plat should be prepared under field conditions and planted one year for trial4 ,,preparation ,,of ,,the ,,seed ,,bed4 ,to secure a full1 even stand of crimson clover with any degree of regularity the seed bed should be well and thoroughly prepared4 ,the soil should be firm1 moist1 well settled1 and fine on top4 ,only indifferent success can possibly be expected if the seed is scattered on land which is loose1 dry1 and full of hard lumps and trash4 ,a loose seed bed dries out quickly1 heaves during the winter1 and on some soils blows and washes badly4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #e4--;,a corrugated roller or pulverizer1 an excellent implement for preparing the seed bed for crimson clover4 ,on the other hand1 the seed bed should not be too hard1 for although this clover often grows successfully on soil which would be too solid for corn1 there must be at least enough loose soil on the surface to cover the seed4 ,thorough preparation is the very best insurance against failure of the stand through drought or winterkilling1 and the most successful growers sow crimson clover on land as well prepared as that for wheat4 ,to secure a fine1 firm seed bed without drying out the surface soil1 the land should be prepared with as few operations as possible4 ,a single working when the soil is in a moist1 crumbly condition is better than half a dozen workings when the soil is too wet or too dry4 ,in very sandy soils1 or soils which do not form a crust1 the only preparation needed is to keep down the weeds4 ,an excellent tool for making the seed bed is the corrugated roller or pulverizer 7fig4 #e74 ,this implement is an improvement over the old plain roller for breaking clods and is unexcelled for keeping the surface soil moist4 ,it can be used after plowing and again before planting1 and even after planting if the soil needs to be compacted4 ,rolling of some kind to firm the soil is especially important on sandy soils1 but it is equally beneficial on clay soils if they are cloddy4 ,when clover is seeded in an intertilled crop1 such as corn1 cotton1 or tomatoes1 the customary cultivation received by these crops is ordinarily sufficient preparation for crimson clover4 ,in sandy soil the clover is often seeded without any immediate preparation1 but a light stirring with a harrow-toothed cultivator is desirable if the ground is hard4 ,if the clover is to be used for hay or seed1 the preceding crop should be laid by level rather than in ridges4 ,this will facilitate cutting the clover4 ,where crimson clover is seeded after a crop of small grain1 the stubble should be plowed or disked as soon as possible after the grain is cut4 ,stubble land dries out quickly1 partly because the soil is suddenly left bare and partly because of the drain on the soil moisture by the crops of ragweed and other coarse-growing weeds which always follow a grain crop4 ,unless the soil is cultivated at once it becomes very difficult to obtain anything like an ideal seed bed for crimson clover4 ,this difficulty is usually more pronounced after oats and barley than after rye and wheat4 ,ordinarily the best practice is to disk the grain stubble within a week after harvest and harrow every week1 or at least after every rain1 in order to settle the ground1 destroy the weeds1 and assist in holding the moisture pending the time of seeding the clover4 ,plowing the stubble is more expensive than disking and requires that the ground be allowed to settle for a month or six weeks in order to secure a firm seed bed4 ,plowing is an advantage in a wet season1 because plowed ground dries readily2 it is a disadvantage in a dry season for the same reason4 ,,fertilizers4 ,on moderately rich soil the fertilizer applied to the preceding crop is sufficient to produce a good crop of crimson clover4 ,this is especially true where the clover follows such crops as potatoes or tomatoes1 which ordinarily are heavily treated with fertilizers4 ,it is important to realize1 however1 that crimson clover has a very short period of growth1 and that to make a vigorous growth it must have a good supply of plant food4 ,on sandy soils where fertilizers have not recently been applied it is often the practice to apply from #aej to #bjj pounds of acid phosphate1 with some potash fertilizer if it can be afforded4 ,on clay soils #bjj or #cjj pounds per acre of acid phosphate ordinarily are sufficient4 ,on many soils a light application of nitrate of soda will assist materially in giving the young clover plants a good start and often will enable them to withstand the effects of a late drought or severe winter which otherwise might have injured the stand4 ,if the seeding has been delayed1 as by waiting for suitable rains1 an application of not more than #ge pounds of nitrate of soda per acre will stimulate the young plants and enable them to make a better growth before winter4 ,fertilizer is usually applied at seeding time1 but a few farmers have been found who apply it as a top-dressing very early the following summer1 giving as a reason that there is then no loss from winter leaching and that by this method the plants are nourished at the time they are making their most vigorous growth4 ,such top-dressings of fertilizer should not be made while the leaves are wet with rain or dew4 ,where stable manure is applied to crimson clover very marked results follow4 ,it may be spread just before seeding when the clover is not grown in an intertilled crop1 or it may be applied as a top-dressing in winter or very early spring4 ,the more vigorous the growth that can be induced by the application of suitable fertilizers the more marked will be the increase in the yield of the succeeding crops4 ,on soil in a low state of productivity the use of a reasonable amount of fertilizer will often enable a successful crop of clover and succeeding crops to be produced1 where had not the fertilizers been applied the clover would have failed4 ,furthermore1 the following crop1 particularly if it be corn1 would also fail to give the increased yield which follows a successful stand of crimson clover4 ,an application of barnyard manure will be found to be especially effective in obtaining a stand of crimson clover on any thin1 galled spots in the field4 ,the manure should be worked into the ground before seeding1 and1 if possible1 a second application as a top-dressing should be given a day or two after planting4 ,the top-dressing stimulates the seedlings and if strawy helps to protect them from the ,august sun4 ,,lime4 ,crimson clover is not as dependent on lime as red clover and alfalfa1 being more like alsike clover in this respect4 ,it does not thrive on soils which are very sour1 but on well-drained soils in a productive condition crimson clover frequently makes a vigorous growth1 even though the soil may show a high lime requirement4 ,the stands are usually more uniformly good over the limed parts of such fields than on the unlimed parts1 although it is sometimes questionable whether the benefit derived from liming is profitable4 ,liming is more often desirable on clay soils than on sandy soils1 and usually gives better results when used in conjunction with fertilizers than when used alone4 ,on light sandy soils deficient in humus burnt lime may be actually injurious4 ,in considering the advisability of applying lime one must not lose sight of the need of lime on the part of such other crops as corn1 cantaloupes1 or peaches1 which are either grown with or follow the clover4 ,inasmuch as the effect of liming varies greatly in different localities1 it is suggested that small plats be treated experimentally at different rates before any considerable areas are limed4 ,,inoculation4 ,a large part of the value of all clovers lies in their ability to utilize the nitrogen of the air and add it to the soil4 ,when grown on rich land1 the clovers1 like many other plants1 use the nitrogen already present in the soil and are not stimulated to contribute any to their own support or to the support of other crops4 ,to enable the clover to use the nitrogen in the air the presence of the proper nodule-forming bacteria in the soil is necessary4 ,fortunately1 most of the soils in the crimson-clover sections appear to be already inoculated1 and artificial inoculation is not often necessary1 except on soils new to the crop4 ,crimson clover is inoculated by the same strain of bacteria which occurs on the roots of the other true clovers2 consequently1 a field which has produced a good stand of red1 mammoth1 alsike1 white1 hop1 ,carolina1 rabbit's-foot1 or buffalo clover is usually inoculated sufficiently for crimson clover4 ,sweet clover1 ,japan clover1 and bur clover are not true clovers and are inoculated by a different strain of bacteria4 ,the importance of inoculation is well shown by an experiment conducted by the ,alabama ,agricultural ,experiment ,station4 ,in this experiment yields of #d1jeg and #f1ajj pounds of crimson-clover hay were secured on inoculated soils1 while on corresponding areas which were not inoculated the yields were #gfa pounds on one area and nothing on the other4 ,the soil can be inoculated artificially by means of pure cultures of the bacteria or by the transfer of a small quantity of soil from another clover field4#b ,the latter method is the more certain1 but is open to the danger of introducing noxious weeds1 insects1 and plant diseases1 especially if the soil is brought from a distance4 ,the presence of stem-rot in many sections makes the use of soil especially dangerous4 ,this disease can1 be carried with the soil from field to field4 #b ,sufficient pure culture for inoculating seed for #a acre can be secured free from the ,united ,states ,department of ,agriculture4 ,full directions for using the culture accompany each bottle4 ,directions for inoculating by the soil-transfer method can also be obtained from this ,department4 ,,seeding4 ,,time ,,of ,,seeding4 ,crimson clover is usually sown between ,august #ae and ,october #a1 the general rule being to plant about #fj days before the first killing frost is expected4 ,south of ,virginia crimson clover can be seeded as late as ,november #a1 although if planted late more seed should be used and a light dressing of nitrate of soda applied1 in order to stimulate the young plants4 ,seeding earlier than ,august #a is seldom advisable unless the crop is sown with some other crop the shade of which will hold it back4 ,the exact date of planting depends almost entirely upon the moisture content of the soil4 ,the principal condition to avoid is planting when the soil contains just enough moisture to germinate the seeds1 but not enough to keep the plants growing4 ,usually it is better to plant when the soil is quite dry than when it is slightly moist1 for in dry soil the seeds1 if properly buried1 lie without germinating and are ready to grow vigorously at the first rainfall4 ,the most favorable time for seeding is just before or just after a good rain1 when the soil is moist enough to form a ball in the hand4 ,,rate ,,of ,,seeding4 ,the ordinary rate of seeding crimson clover is #ae pounds per acre1 although the rate varies according to conditions4 ,from #ab to #ae pounds per acre are usually sufficient when growing the crop for seed or when the soil is unusually rich4 ,on poor soil1 dry soil1 or on soil which has not previously produced crimson clover #ah to #bb pounds of seed give better assurance of a stand4 ,heavy seeding is also desirable when planting late in the season or when a heavy crop is wanted for green manure early in the spring4 ,theoretically1 #b pounds of seed per acre would provide six plants for every square foot1 which is a satisfactory stand4 ,under ordinary circumstances1 however1 it is necessary to allow for some of the seed being too deep1 or too shallow1 or failing to germinate1 and for a certain percentage of winterkilling4 ,it is also well to have a fairly thick stand of the young plants1 so that the ground may be well covered during the early fall and thus prevent soil washing and the growth of winter weeds4 ,,methods ,,of ,,seeding4 ,the most common method of seeding crimson clover in intertilled crops is to scatter the seed broadcast with a rotary seeder or by hand4 7,fig4 #f47 ,in order to place the seed on a fresh1 moist seed bed it is commonly broadcasted immediately behind the cultivator at the last cultivation and is covered 'at once by a second cultivator4 ,in tall corn the seed may be sown from horseback1 the ears of the horse being covered with small bags to prevent the entrance of the flying seed4 ,slightly more seed is required when seeding in tall corn1 as some seed catches in the corn plants4 ,when seeding in cotton care must be taken to avoid injury to the opening bolls1 which are easily knocked off or torn4 ,this is best done by seeding by hand1 covering the seed with a piece of brush dragged down the rows4 ,in low-growing truck crops and on fallow ground crimson clover can be seeded with a wheelbarrow seeder4 ,this implement distributes the seed more evenly than can be done by hand or with the rotary seeder1 especially when planting a mixture of crops4 ,the wheelbarrow seeder being somewhat awkward to handle is better adapted to smooth1 level fields than to hillsides4 ,probably the very best method of seeding crimson clover is with the special clover or alfalfa drill4 ,where enough clover is grown to warrant its use this implement is to be highly recommended4 ,the seed is sown in #d-;inch rows at just the proper depth and with the right pressure1 and the fertilizer is placed exactly under each row1 where it will be immediately available to the seedlings4 ,drilled clover requires less seed than broadcasted clover and produces a more even and certain stand4 ,in place of the special clover drill an ordinary grain drill equipped with a clover-seed attachment can be used with good results4 ,special spouts should be arranged to lead from the clover-seed box back of the shoes or disks1 in order to deposit the seed directly in the furrow4 ,chain furrow closers are best for covering the seed1 as they leave the furrows broad and flat instead of ,v shaped and lessen the danger of the seedlings being covered with soil during a hard rain4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #f4--,seeding crimson clover in corn at the last cultivation4 ,for use in intertilled crops there are several types of #a-row drills1 the best for this purpose being the #e-;hoe drill equipped with press wheels4 ,crimson-clover seed must be covered1 but not too deeply4 ,in most soils it is not enough to depend on rain to effect a covering4 ,an inch in sandy soils and half an inch in clay soils appear to be about the right depth4 ,shallow planting gives the best results in wet seasons and deep planting in time of drought4 ,broadcasted seed should be covered with a spike-tooth harrow or a weeder rather than a heavy harrow or a shovel cultivator4 ,a harrow made of fairly stiff brush is often useful in loose soil4 ,,choice ,,of ,,seed4 ,as a rule1 fresh crimson-clover seed is of good viability1 and failure to secure a stand is not often caused by failure of the seed to grow4 ,unlike most clovers1 crimson-clover seed absorbs water readily and sprouts quickly4 ,there are practically none of the hard seeds which are so frequent in red clover and sweet clover1 and a germination of #ij per cent in #dh hour's is not uncommon4 ,the seed deteriorates rapidly1 however1 and when more than #b years old rarely shows a germination in excess of #ej per cent4 ,sometimes1 when stocks of commercial seed are low1 old seed finds its way to the market1 and this1 when planted1 gives poor results4 ,old seed can usually be detected by the dull-brown appearance of the seed coat as contrasted with the bright1 shiny1 pinkish or greenish yellow color of fresh seed4 ,brown seed1 however1 is sometimes caused by weathering during harvest1 and such seed is not objectionable unless the weathering has been excessive4 ,a common impurity in crimson-clover seed is green1 shrunken1 and immature seed1 caused by harvesting the crop before it is ripe4 ,crimson-clover seed does not germinate readily until it takes on a yellowish tinge2 therefore1 green seed should be rejected4 ,crimson-clover seed is larger and plumper than red-clover seed and if properly cleaned should not contain seeds of dodder or the smaller seeded weeds4 ,frequently1 however1 it does contain the seeds of field peppergrass1 yellow trefoil1 evening primrose1 sheep sorrel1 wild geranium1 buttercups1 mustards1 and other weeds which blossom in early summer4 ,,unhulled ,,seed4 ,there is a growing belief among farmers that they are less likely to lose a stand of crimson clover through drought if they sow the seed in the hull rather than use the hulled seed as it ordinarily appears on the market4 ,it is claimed that the hulls hold the moisture to some extent and carry the seedlings over the critical day or two following germination1 while some farmers assert that the unhulled seeds require more moisture for germination1 and the seeds therefore do not sprout until there is enough moisture in the soil to keep the plants growing4 ,unhulled seed is bulky and is not often handled by commercial seedsmen1 although one large grower sells the unhulled seed in compressed1 bales similar to small cotton bales4 ,it usually can be secured from neighboring farmers1 however1 or is easily saved at home4 ,the seed can be harvested with a stripper from the standing crop in the field or the mature crop can be cut and thrashed like an ordinary grain crop4 ,for local planting on a small scale unhulled seed is the cheapest and most accessible form of crimson-clover seed4 ,unhulled seed is somewhat difficult to sow1 because the hairy hulls stick together in masses and can not be scattered uniformly4 ,to avoid this trouble the seed may be mixed with moistened earth or with lime1 or may be sown with a blower similar to those used on small forges4 ,a better plan is to sow on a windy day1 throwing the seed vertically into the air and allowing the wind to scatter it4 ,of unhulled seed of the best quality1 #ajj pounds contains about #a bushel 7#fj pounds7 of clean seed4 ,the common grades1 however1 are usually more chaffy and require #abj to #ahj pounds to make a bushel4 ,from #b to #c pounds of unhulled seed are therefore regarded as equivalent to #a pound of hulled seed4 ,a bushel of unhulled seed1 even when well packed down1 weighs only #f to #aj pounds and contains about #d pounds of seed4 ,the appearance of both hulled and unhulled crimson-clover seed is shown in figure #g4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #g4--;,hulled seed of crimson clover of a common commercial grade and unhulled seed gathered with a homemade stripper4 7,natural size47 ,,use ,,of ,a ,,nurse ,,crop4 ,in order to protect the crimson-clover seedlings from the hot sun of late ,august it is a common practice in some sections to plant with the clover a small quantity of some quick-growing crop like buckwheat1 cowpeas1 rape1 or turnips4 ,a thin stand of these heavier leaved plants furnishes an ideal shade for the young clover1 and on soils which are inclined to bake it prevents the formation of a crust4 ,the nurse crop must be seeded lightly1 usually not more than half the regular rate1 as the ordinary stand shades the ground so completely as to destroy the crimson clover4 ,on hot clay soil in the ,piedmont region the chances of obtaining a stand of clover are about twice as good with a nurse crop as without one4 ,buckwheat is the principal nurse crop northward from ,washington1 ,d4 ,c4 ,a common rate of seeding is #b to #c pecks of buckwheat in #ae pounds of crimson clover4 ,if the planting can be made in ,july the buckwheat usually has time to ripen before frost and thus pay the cost of starting both stands4 ,in the cotton belt cowpeas have been used successfully1 especially when seeding on fallow ground4 ,they are seeded broadcast at the rate of one-half bushel per acre4 ,there is ordinarily not enough time for the cowpeas to mature1 but they add to the value of the stand for fall pasturage and protect the clover from severe weather in the winter4 ,both cowpeas and buckwheat have the merit of being able to grow on poor soil4 ,dwarf ,essex rape has been used as a nurse crop in a few cases where the clover was to be pastured by hogs or sheep in the fall4 ,from #b to #c pounds of rape1 sown in ,august1 furnishes sufficient cover for a nurse crop4 ,cowhorn turnips1 winter kale1 and mustard are also satisfactory nurse crops if planted at a rate not exceeding #a pound of seed per acre4 ,if the clover is to be saved for seed these latter crops are objectionable1 as a few plants will live over winter and ripen at the same time as the clover4 ,where a nurse crop can not be grown conveniently1 the crimson-clover seedlings can be protected from the sun by a light top-dressing of straw1 spread just after the seed is sown4 ,,seed ,,mixtures4 ,crimson clover is frequently grown in combination with winter grain1 hairy vetch1 or other forage crops having a similar period of growth4 ,the mixed crop is less liable to lodge than the single crop1 cures more readily in damp weather1 and usually furnishes a heavier yield4 ,another advantage of the mixed crop is that if either should fail the other will serve as a cover crop during the winter and bring some return the following spring4 ,mixed crops are not desirable if the clover is to be saved for seed4 ,south of central ,virginia crimson clover is usually grown in combination with winter oats4 ,an early variety of oats1 such as the ,fulghum1 or a late variety of clover1 such as the white blooming1 is usually the best1 as the oat crop matures somewhat later than the ordinary crimson clover4 ,the customary rate of seeding is #ae pounds of the clover and #b bushels of oats per acre4 ,in ,delaware and eastern ,maryland the most popular companion crop for crimson clover is winter wheat1 although barley makes a desirable hay crop and is sometimes used4 ,eye is not desirable for hay1 but it is probably the best of the grains for green manure1 as it is hardy1 vigorous1 and starts growth early in the spring4 ,rye and wheat are seeded at the rate of #a bushel per acre with the customary quantity of crimson clover4 ,the accompanying illustration 7fig4 #h7 shows a field seeded to a mixture of crimson clover and wheat4 ,usually the grain is well headed1 but in the milk or soft-dough stage1 when the clover is ready to cut1 the yield of the mixed crimson clover and grain is often #be to #ej per cent greater than that of the clover alone4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #h4--;,crimson clover and wheat in mixture4 ,in the foreground the crop has been cut and fed green to stock4 ,the remainder was cut the next day for hay4 ,the grain prevents the crimson clover from lodging4 ,hairy vetch and crimson clover are sometimes grown together1 seeding at the rate of #bj pounds and #aj pounds per acre1 respectively4 ,as both these plants are likely to lodge in good soil1 however1 one of the grains is usually included1 a common seeding mixture being oats #b bushels1 hairy vetch #ab to #ae pounds1 and crimson clover #e pounds4 ,bur clover1 black medic1 and other winter-growing legumes are sometimes found in mixtures with crimson clover1 although such mixtures generally occur by accident rather than intent4 ,black medic and crimson clover make' a particularly good combination on rich soil4 ,in most of the crimson-clover area the cultivated grasses1 such as timothy1 redtop1 and orchard grass1 are not commonly grown4 ,however1 where these grasses flourish they may well be seeded at the same time as the crimson clover1 provided the latter is planted not earlier than ,september #ae4 ,in some sections ,johnson grass and ,bermuda grass make useful combinations with crimson clover1 the grasses making most of their growth in the summer and the clover in the fall and spring4 ,,treatment ,,of ,,the ,,stand4 ,ordinarily no special treatment is required after seeding and the clover goes into the winter without any further handling4 ,if the growth is so rank that there is danger of the plants being too succulent to survive the winter1 the tops can be reduced by light grazing with small animals1 such as calves1 sheep1 or chickens1 or by mowing with the cutter bar of the mowing machine set high4 ,if the stand is backward1 it may be stimulated by a light application of nitrate of soda4 ,it is said that a thin stand can be thickened by grazing lightly with sheep1 as the grazing induces heavier stooling4 ,the aim should be to carry the clover into the winter with well-hardened leafy stems and with a well-established root system to withstand heaving out in the spring4 ,in fields which are to be saved for seed a wise precaution is to go over them early in the spring and chop out the weeds4 ,if wild onion and other weeds are chopped off in ,april1 they do not make enough growth by ,may to contaminate the seed crop4 ,,maladies4 ,the only disease seriously affecting crimson clover is the clover stem-rot1 root-rot1 or wilt1 a disease resembling the stem-rot1 or wilt1 of lettuce and other plants4 ,this disease is prevalent in nearly all the crimson-clover ,states and sometimes does considerable damage4 ,the stem-rot affects the clover at all seasons1 but is more noticeable in the spring1 when it sometimes causes large spots of clover suddenly to wilt and fall4 ,occasionally an entire field is affected1 but the disease is most prevalent in low1 rich spots4 ,examination of the plants discloses a rotting off or decay of the stems close to the ground1 followed immediately by the appearance on the stems of small black lumps1 or sclerotia1 about the size of clover seed4 ,these sclerotia are a means of spreading the disease and are often harvested in the hay or in the seed crop4 ,the only known remedy for the stem-rot is to cease growing clover or alfalfa on an infested field for three or four years1 substituting cowpeas or soy beans4 ,seed from fields known to be infested should1 of course1 be avoided4 ,no insects are known to affect crimson clover seriously1 nor are weeds of great importance in clover planted on clean fields4 ,when planted in cultivated crops or in poorly prepared ground crimson clover is often seriously damaged by a rank growth of chickweed1 knawel 7moss weed71 winter cress1 and other winter-growing annuals4 ,,washington 3 ,,government ,,printing ,,office 3 #aibj 99 99 99 99 99 ,transcriber ,note ,minor typos have been corrected4 ,illustrations were moved to prevent splitting paragraphs4 ,produced from files generously made available by ,,usda through ,the ,internet ,archive4 ,all resultant materials are placed in the ,public ,domain4