The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1895-09-05
CRIMSON CLOVER.
THE GREAT MORTGAGE LITTER OF THE
FARM.

THE GREAT MORTGAGE LITTER OF THE
FARM.
A Crop that is Easily Grown and Very
ProfitabIe-An Enricher of the Soil
and a Splendid Feed for Stock
Every Farmer Should Raise 1t.
(W. NJ. King. Of Virginia, in American Az
riculturist.l
Great as is the demand for seed Just
now. the supply seems ample at just
halfthe price it commanded two years
ago. What alfalfa has done for the
farmers in California and Colorado
wherever irrigation is necessary or
practicable, crimson clover is likely to
do. proving equally acceptable as an
important crop in the South Atlantic
States. In these its value for fer,ilzing
purposes, for soiling, and for hay, is
not likely 10 be overestimated. For
these purposes it leads even the cow
pea. The only advantage that the COW
pea has over the clovers is that it will
grow and attain height OF two feet
or more, while even the crimson clover
would not attain height of more than
six to eight inches. Still on a soil
that can not be successfully seeded
with grass, the crimson clover succeeds
admirably. A very marked advan-
tage of the latter is that during the
first six months of its growth it pro-
duces much greater bulk of roots
than the common seed clover.
In these hurrying, pushing times,
one cannot afford two give two years
time to the culture of red clover, when
but half Of the time will be required
for the accomplishment of the same
result with the now indispensable
crimson clover. Another advantage
this clover possesses is that it does not
interfere with any other crop, and in
this respect it is distinctly American,
or independent. Sown, as it may be,
with tomato, potato, or corn crop at
the last working, the seeding is COM
paratively inexpensive. The growth Of
the clover plant is such that when the
winter season arrives it acts as mulch
on the land, and measurably prevents
washing-the great drawback to soil
improvement in the southland in the
following spring the growth is much
more rapid and abundant than that Of
the red varieties.
The importance of keeping the
ground covered with dense crop like
crimson clover to prevent the growth
of annual weeds after potato, corn and
garden crops have been removed, can
not be overestimated. 1t is true that
these annual weeds may be of some
value for fertilizer, and may to some
extent prevent washing of the soil, but
In both these respects they are vastly
inferior to crimson clover, and, have
a very injurious effect in spreading
their seeds about the farm. Properly
used, Crimson clover is likely to prove
one of the farmers best weapons for
weeds. When grown thickly
it will, to considerable extent, choke
down even the nut sedge. On the
other hand care should be taken to SOW
only pure seed, as most of our perni-
cious weeds are introduced and dis
tributed more in clover than by any
other artificial means.
Another important consideration in
favor of this clover is its value for hay.
When properly cured-and it is more
easily cured than the mammoth variety
of red clover-it has been found to
about twice as much protein
or flesh and muscle forming food per
100 pounds as hay from the very best
grasses, and is worth fully one-fourth
more for feeding than ordinary hay.
The cultivation of this clover for seed
has heretofore been quite profitable,
and this is likely to continue to con-
siderable degree for years to come.
The seed natures quite early, and if
cut high and both stubble and roots
are plowed under its value both for /
'eed and fertilizing purposes places it |
ahead Of all other plants of which l !
nave any knowledge. At the present !
prices of crimson clover, no farmer
2an afford to delay single day in pro-
curing a supply of hardy, thoroughly !
lcclimated Delaware grown seed, and !
give this comparatively new variety Of
is now known in Della
ware as the mortgage litter =
borough trial.