Part 1

=Transcriber Note=

Text emphasis denoted by Italics and =Bold=.

Issued July 9, 1913.

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

Farmers' Bulletin 550

CRIMSON CLOVER:

GROWING THE CROP.

J. M. WESTGATE

Agronomist in Charge of Clover Investigations. Office of Forage-Crop Investigations, Bureau of Plant Industry.

WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, 1913.

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

U. S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau or Plant Industry, Office or the Chief, Washington, D. C., June 12, 1915.

Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith and to recommend for publication as a Farmers' Bulletin the accompanying manuscript entitled "Crimson Clover: Growing the Crop." This has been prepared by Mr. J. M. Westgate, Agronomist in Charge of Clover Investigations, and has been submitted by Prof. C. V. Piper, Agrostologist in Charge of Forage-Crop Investigations, with a view to publication. It is expected that this bulletin will be followed soon by other bulletins, each treating of some particular phase of this important crop.

Respectfully, Wm. A. Taylor, Chief of Bureau.

Hon. D. F. Houston, Secretary of Agriculture.

CONTENTS.

Page. Introduction 3 History and present distribution of crimson clover 3 Requirements for obtaining and maintaining a stand of crimson clover 5 Preparation of the Seed bed 6 Fertilizers for crimson clover 6 Liming soils for crimson clover 7 Inoculation for crimson clover 8 Seeding crimson clover 8 Various methods of seeding crimson clover 9 Seeding crimson clover in intertilled crops 10 Seeding crimson clover after early-maturing crops 12 Seeding crimson clover with late summer-seeded annual crops 13 Crimson clover in mixtures with other legumes and grain 13 Seeding crimson clover alone 15 Treatment of crimson clover stands after seeding 15

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Page. Fig. 1. A single plant of crimson clover. 4 2. A crimson-clover failure on ground too poor in humus 5 3. Seeding crimson clover in corn at the last cultivation 10 4. Crimson clover in an old cornfield 11 5. Crimson clover and wheat in mixture 14

CRIMSON CLOVER: GROWING THE CROP.

=INTRODUCTION.=

Probably the most important characteristic of crimson clover is its ability to grow and make its crop during the season when the land is not occupied by the ordinary summer-growth crops. In sections where it succeeds, crimson clover can be sown following a grain crop or in an intertilled crop in late summer and will mature a hay crop the following spring in time to plow the land for spring-seeded crops, such as corn or cotton. It may even be held for seed as far north as central Delaware and the stubble be plowed under in time for seeding the quick-maturing strains of corn. It may be turned under for soil improvement when only 6 inches high if it Is desired to fit the land for early spring-seeded crops Even if only the stubble be turned under, the effect upon the succeeding crop will be marked, especially if the soil be deficient in nitrogenous fertilizers. The plowing under of the entire plant, however, will more rapidly correct any deficiency of nitrates or humus in the soil. It is one of the best cover crops for use in orchards and, in fact, under any conditions where the soil is likely to wash during the winter months. The many uses to which this crop may be put merit a careful study of the best methods of establishing ii stand of crimson clover upon a farm.

=HISTORY AND PRESENT DISTRIBUTION OF CRIMSON CLOVER.=

Crimson clover (fig. 1) is frequently called "Scarlet clover" and, somewhat loss commonly, "German clover," "Italian clover," "French clover," "Incarnate clover," "Annual clover," etc. It occurs wild in England and in eastern and southern Europe and is grown as a forage and soil-improving crop in Italy, France, Germany, Austria, and Great Britain. It was introduced into this country as early as 1822, but was grown only to a very limited extent until about 1880. It has proved especially adapted to the lighter, sandy soils of the eastern part of the United States where the winters are not too severe.

In the Middle Atlantic States it is also grown to a considerable extent on the clay soils of the Piedmont section.

In Michigan it is sometimes used on the sandy soils as a cover crop in peach orchards, although it frequently winterkills. It can not ordinarily survive the severe winters of the Northern States.

In such northern sections where a fall-seeded legume is desired it is suggested that hairy vetch seeded with rye be used instead. See Farmers' Bulletin 515, entitled "Vetches."

Crimson clover is a "winter annual," that is, it ordinarily makes its early growth in the autumn, passes the winter in a somewhat dormant but green state, makes a very early spring growth, and matures its seed and dies before summer. It makes little or no growth in very hot weather and therefore should not be sown in the spring, except in the extreme North, where it may make a satisfactory growth by autumn, so that & hay crop may be taken from it at that time.