The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-24
crimson clover Once More.

Mnen years uSOf says Allt l. an anu
Fireside, l saw for the first time in a
southern city the loads Of a peculiar rich
looking green clover which farmers
brought to the city market in early spring,
and sold by the bushel to owners of horses
and cows my attention was at once at
tracted, and on my inquiry was told that
the rank, green stuff, with its long crimson
clover heads, was Italian clover" Right
there and then / became impressed with
the great value of the plant as forage
crop; for it was too early in the season
for any other green fodder except rye, and
the CITY people who owned horses and
cows seemed to be willing to pay what
thought was a rather stiff price for an
armful of green stuff that might act as
laxative and furnish pleasing change
to the hay and grain fed city animals. l
did not dream, however, that there might
be value in the plant for northern people
also. and occupied in horticultural lines,
forgot about the Italian" or crimson
clover, until reminded of it again by the
various glowing accounts about this crop
which recently appeared in the agrlcul-
tural press.
ingIy quick and thrifty growth. Sown in
the fall, it will give heavy crop OF forage
or hay early the following spring. Inc
only question about which we are anxious,
is that of its hardness. Doubt about this,
| think is just what has been the STUN
bling block in its path to popularity
among northern growers. But 1t now
seems that we have doubted without just
reason. The New Jersey experiment sta
ton prof. Edward B. voorhees,, director,
New Brunswick. n. j., has Just issued
bulletin no. 1000 treating on TINS clover.
From its summary / quote the following
important statements;
crimson clover is an annual plant,
hardy for the whole state II has been 91r-
cessfully grown in every county from Cape
Nav TO SUSSEX lis Dest use 49, ptoDe--s-
derived when seeded in the summer or
fall for an early spring crop, eiIner IoI
pasture forage or green manure. The time
of seeding may extend from July 10 TO
Sept Is, depending upon the character OF
the season and the seed-bed. Goou results
have been secured when seeded ldter imam
Sent Is 1t is the experience OF the grow
ers that the seed takes better when lightly
covered. :.
cbards berry patches. corn. tomatoes etc.
and uDon new ground, following after po-
tatoes tomatoes, melons or othef CROP
harvested before september. II Is not
adapted for seeding with wheat or rye
1.-THE amount of seed may range Wlthln
wide limits-eight to sixteen pounds per
acre On an average twelve pouhus Per
acre will doubtless be found Sufhclent. NO
failures to stand the winter have been re-
ported when good American grown SEED
was used. 1t is more hardy thah req
clover. Foreign seed has not proved satis-
s"The crop, in common with all other
farm crons requires good soils Tor It's
hest development though it is well adapted
for light lands. catching readily ana grow
ing we'll where red clover Will not thrive
and also making use of the mineral con-
stituents not available to the cereals. The
average yield secured from Iull stdi!a u on
Nav "a and representing soils OF a diner
emit character, was L.75 tons OF green
clover ner acre. or equivalent to ~ tons OF
d1-v hay. Very much larger yields nave
been reported .-7 ,,.,+,,-,, -,
"This plant provides good pasture be
eora cher croDs are available. An early
nastrre is not only valuable for the food
Contained in il, but also because II heips
10 insure proper feeding, and to prevent
too early use of other and later pastures.
"Crimson clover in average seasons pro-
vides soilng crop exce1ent DOM IN yieI1
and quality of product. II Is satisfactory
Cor The plirpose for about twenty DAYS.
Yielding sufficient for ten COWS in tull
AnuS Of milk for that length of time.
@1The composition and .digestibility OF
.,;I liant show it TO be superior to red
in1,ar and when seasons are favorable for
eayIv hav-making, the product thusase-
cured is not excelled by any of our farm
cTons as a feed for all purposes.
'SThe advantage derived from the crop
when used solely as green manure are
For food provided the resulting manure IS
nronerlv saved and applied.
1bis is a strong Endorsement OF the
| ,aIi,a of crimson clover. Possibly some OF
! these claims may yet have TO De modlneu'
/ hut think the half has not yet been tod.
! II the plant is hardy, or wherever u Is
! fonnd to be hardy, ii will surely MI
| ''Iong-felt want " great gap for which we
| have been trying for many years 70 hhu