The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-12-26

a promising forage plant for sandy soils
Is found in the crimson clover. Trifolium
incarnatum, sometimes improperly termed
scarlet clover. E. b. Voorhees, Of the New
Jersey station reports (B. 100 that it Will
grow in any part OF that state. being quite
as hardy as the common red clover, and
yielding better hay and very early pasture.
Crimson clover Is an annual. its best use
being probably derived from seeding It in
the summer or fall for an early spring
crop, either for pasture, forage or green
manure. as 1t withstands the winter. II is
adapted for a wide variety of conditions.
both in reference to character OF soil and
method and time Of seeding, though not as
4 substitute for red clover.
Spring seeding either alone or with oats,
gives a summer crop. FAN seeding may
extend from July 10 October in orchards,
berry patches, corn, among vegetables. or
upon raw ground following after potatoes,
tomatoes, melons or other crops harvested
before September. The seed should be
hghtly covered, as even heavy rains bury
Il too deeply. Hot, dry weather after
sprOuJing also injuries the stand. II is not
adapted for seeding with winter wheat or
rye. An average Of twelve pounds Of seed
best American grown strains. Eight pounds
may be used alone or in orchards, while as
much as sixteen pounds may be needed
when sOwn with other crops, which should
then be we'll fortified.
Crimson clover. in common with other
farm crops, requires good soils for its best
development, though Il Is we'll adapted TO
ligh: lands, catching readily and flourishing
where red clover will not thrive, and a.so
making use Of mineral constituents which
are not available TO the cereals. The
average yield on different soils secured
from a full stand the last week in May
was fifteen and three-fOurth tons Of green
forage, which became two and seventh
tenths tons Of dry hay. Much larger
yields have been reported. AS a green
manure to secure available nitrogen. this
plant possesses many advantages due to
its time Of growth. y crop six inches high
on April a showed accumulation of nitro
gen in the whole plant at the rate Of 104
pounds per acre, or as much as Is contained
in ten tons Of stable manure. or in 6lS
pounds Of nitrate of soda, which costs SIS.
The clover growth thus early might be
utilized by blowing under TO fertiliZe the
soil for such early vegetables. potatoes,
melons and other crops usually benefited
by liberal applications OF heterogeneous
manures. on May y a crop averaging
thirteen inches higl contained nitrogen at
the rate Of I6S pounds per acre. worth
gen at the rate Of 200 pounds per acre, or
rs much as is found in twenty, tons OF
stable manure, and thus worth $50. The
advantages derived from this crop when
used solely as a green manure are but
slightly reduced when the crop is fed 20
stock. and the resulting manure saved and
returned 10 the field. The fertiliZing value
of the roots alone is equivalent in nitrogen
compounds and other organic matter TO
three tons Of stable manure.
In average seasons crimson clover pro-
vides a sOiling crop excellent both in yield
and quality Of product. lasting about
twenty days and at a time WHEN O-her
forage IS not abundant. In the expert
ments nearly a ton and a half OF digestible
food were grown on an acre. which would
thus provide sufficient fOOr for ten cows
IN full flow OF milk for twenty days. and
be worth at least $50. This clover Yields
good pasture before other crops are ready
being pastured before the middle of April
When six inches high an acre should
nOurish twelve cows for one week The
composition and digestibllity OF this plant
make il superior to red clover. and in
seasons favorable to early hay-ma king the
product thus secured is not excelled bv
any other farm crop for all purposes 1t
IS especially useful in the renovation OF
poor, sandy farms. Interest in this crop IS
so great, especially north OF the thirty
ninth degree, whore ii has not yet been
acclimated, that we invite the experience OF
farmers on this product