The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-06-07
Crimson Clover for Hay or Seed.

Crimson clover (trifolium incarnatum)
is known under Il variety OF common
names-Annual, German, Scarlet, ana
Italian This clover is easily grown,
and should come into quite general use.
1t is an annual, and consequently must
be re-seeded for each crop, which
makes it important to grow SEED at
home. Seed may be sown from july TO
October, but the land should always be
well prepared for it, or. If not, 1T should
be well shaded as under a growth OF
cow-pea vines, or in a corn or cotton
crop, where the seed should be sown
when the crop is laid by. Grown in
this way it may be of great service in
enriching and holding the land from
washing It's growth is made in the
cool. wet part of the year, and it is
ready to he made into hay at season
when planters are waiting for cotton
to vegetate for first working. This is
often dry time, and the hay can be
quickly and easily cured. 1t may often
be best to SOW this clover with oats, rye,
or barley, and cut all for hay in April
or May.
This clover will thrive on land in
moderate condition, but. like some 9TH
uiven a rich soil. The composition OF
crimson clover hay shows it to be a
highly nutritious food. 1t is so rich
that for any use it may well be fed
with some such fodder as straw, mead
ow hay or cotton seed hulls. When fed
for production of milk. the addition of
corn, or corn and oats, will tend to add
to the good qualities of the product.
The seed distributed in 1893 by the
n. G. Experiment Station is part OF d
crop of 1861 pounds from 3-o acres,
which is Mt the rate of $50 pounds OF
seed in chaf per acre. We have made
some tests on this, which it true for
the whole lot of seed, would yield at
the rate of 1915 pounds, or T. 3-o
bushels per acre of clean seed. This
seed usually sells at retail for ten cents
per pound, and dealers are now paying
S., 50 per bushel for it, The long, we'll
filled heads warrant this good cash
crop where d good stand can be secured
on land in fair condition. 1t can be
grown in orchards for the improvement
of the soil, as in Delaware. where it has
come to be Il standard crop. The one
| drawback is that a special machine
must be used to clean the seed. A
clover seed huller is expensive, but
could clean the seed of a whole town
ship. and perhaps i whole county by
moving around as is usual with thresh-
There are several advantages in grow
ing annual clover sufficient to induce
its cultivation from purchased seed;
but If. instead of buying seed, it can be
| grown at profit and add one more to
| to the cash crops, how much better to
| take such steps as will insure its gene
raj planting.
In maturing crop of seed care should
be exercised to pull out weeds and
| foreign plants and SO keep the seed
| clean. Let the clover get ripe. but not
SO as to shell out too freely before cut
| ting, and handle as little as possible.
| Pitch up into cocks from the swath
and draw in from the cocks in tight
| wagons. If tough, the cocks may be
| turned over from the bottom half
| hour before drawing to shelter. House
| on a tight floor and thresh ont at the
| first opportunity after the straw has
dried out enough to thresh well.-F- E.
| Emery, Agriculturist. \. {. Experiment
! Station.