The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-05
CRIMSON CLOVER
 IS IDEAL CROP Success at Auburn Leads to Optimistic Letter By
 State Agent

Montgomery, June 4.-(Special.)- L Moss, state agent of the farm demonstra- ton work in Alabama, has written let ter to all agents in the state calling their attention to the profit to be derived from growing crimson clover. According to MT Moss it has been demonstrated beyond any doubt by the experiment station at Auburn that clover can be grown in this state. The state agent calls attention to the fact that the crimson clover is a [gIeat soil improver, that 1t occupies the land at a time when it would otherwise be idle. and that it is a crop that might | well be tried by every farmer in the state.
 In his letter to the various agents in the state, MT Moss tells how this crop may best be grown, what are it's require ments and other important features with clover
 The letter of MT. Moss is as follows: "To All Alabama Agents;
 "The remarkable success attained by the Auburn experiment station and few individual farmers over the state with crimson clover has proven the feasibility of profitaby growing this crop in nearly all parts of Alabama.
 Probably the first and most essential step in growing crimson clover is to dis aLuse your mind of the idea that your land is not clover land and that it will not succeed. The land wheer it has been grown at the Auburn station is certainly as poor naturally as any in the state-a deep loose sand. Despite this, crimson clover has almost always succeeded well there and its great value as soi-im- prover and the fact that it occupies the land at time when it would otherwise be idle makes this a crop that may well be tried by every Alabama farmer.
 Crimson clover is annual, legum- nous or nitrogen gathering plant It gath CTS nitrogen from the air by virtue Of the bacteria on it's roots, and when these are absent the crop must of necessity be q failure. We want you to induce four or i've of your best demonstrators to try small area of crimson clover this fall, and if the plan below outlined be followed they will be successful.
 Probably nine-tenths of the failures with crimson clover are due to lack of the clover bacteria ih the soil. Begin with a small area-say one-fourth or one eighth Of an acre. Prepare well and dress with stable manure. Roll or allow rain to firm the land before seeding. Soil on WEiCh crimson clover red clover, Willle clover or Carolina white clover has been grown should be applied at the rate of not less than one ton per acre and immediate Iv plowed or narrowed in to prevent dry ing Seed should be sown 1t the rate of from l5 to IS pounds per acre and har- rowed in The little white clover will be found all over Alabama and hence in most cases inocIlating soil can be easily procured. Bear in mind that without in oculation failure Is cerl ain. Professor Duggar of the Auburn station gives the following as the best dates for seeding: North Alabama, September to October 1: central Alabama. September 10 to Oc- tober 10; and south Alabama, September 20 to October 20. once you have succeeded on small area. it is easy to get lnoculat- ing soil from this for a much larger area for the following year.
 Now is the time at which you should begin to get your demonstrators to think ing about putting in small patches of crimson clover this fall. Locate a small area of white clover and stake it off, so that ! ou will i.noN wfiefe fo set yout in oSulating fnat-fisl when the time comes. m view of the great value ot crop rota ton. 1t Is very important that you plan to put in some of it this fall. Write to Prof J. F. Duggar Auburn, Ala for his bulletin on crimson clover. which goes into the details concerning this valuable crop. Very truly yours,
 s"B. sl4. MOSS, State Agent"