Jackson County sentinel. (Gainesboro, Tenn.) 1914-current, 1917-07-12
FACTS WORTH KAOWIkG
ABOUT CRIMSON CLOVER
(By ]. c. MoAmia.)
lite Value and Uses.


lite Value and Uses.
Crimson clover is probably without
an equal among the winter drops
grown in Tennessee for use as green
manures, cover crops and substitutes.
For these purposes 1t Is harder than
red clover, and earlier than either red
clover or hairy vetch, making II supe-
rior for fall and winter pasture and
for turning under in the spring Its
superiority over the grains lies In the
exceedingly important fact that 1t adds
nitrogen to the soil, while the grains
do not. Glover decays more readily
in the soil and its effect Is quicker. 10
IL richer feed,
Crimson Glover Alone.
Crimson clover may be sown alone
under the following conditions:
Medium poor and rich lands haV-
ing midsummer preparation. and early
August seeding.
2-Rich lands with medium early
preparation and seeding.
s-Where little or no pasturing 10
intended.
Poor lands must have early careful
preparation and seeding. Rich lands
may be seeded later with later prep
aration, though even on lands OF this
character the preparation should be
done early and as thoroughly as pos
sible.
Companion Crops.
Crimson clover may be sown either
alone or with various companion crops,
the most common of which are the
winter grains. This mixture ID ad'
vissd under the following general con-
ditions:
Extremely poor land-Wheat and
rye will succeed on poorer land than
clover.
2-Land of medium fertility with
late preparation and late seeding
Grains help TO prevent the clover from
uoSLluk OuI'
3-Very late seeding on rich land.
ALI lands intended for heavy pas
turing-Grains make firmer turf.
Wheat and rye s-s 0est companion
crops on poor LAID. Wheat reaches
the green manure stage at the same
time that clover does. Rye Is slightly
earlier than crimson clover Oats and
barley produce more pasture Of better
quality on rich land.
Place In the Rotation.
Crimson clover IL often seeded IN
standing cultivated crops, suoh az
corn, cotton, tomatoes, etc. The prae-
tics IL inexpensive but risky. ss .
stand cannot always be secured. Thor
ough late cultivation. thin stands OF
the cultivated crops, rich land and sea,
sonal rains increase the chances OF
success. Moisture In the early fall 10
usually the limiting factor There
fore. maximum production 10 far more
certain by early preparation OF grain
stubbls land. old pastures and mead
ows, which are to be planted to cal.
tivated crop the following season. fol.
lowing the turning under Of the Grim
son clover.
Soil Preparation.
Thorough midsummer breaking 10
necessary to insure thick, productive
stand. Breaking may be done with
the subsoll pillow alone, provided there
is little vegetative growth, otherwise
the turn plow 10 necessary. After
breaking keep the land free from weed
growth and prevent the evaporation
OF moisture by frequent discing and
narrowing. Before seeding, the land
should be made firm with q roller.
Above ell do not SOW on loose land.
PsrtllIxlna.
To soils lacking phosphorus, zoo TO
300 pounds Of acid phosphate should
be disced into the land before seeding.
1t is a good practice to make heavy
applications OF mineral fertilizers to q
clover crop, instead of applying it to
the corn or other crop which is to fol.
low. Lime 10 beneficial to crimson
clover, though II is not absolutely nee
essary for a successful crop Ii should
he apnlied and mixed we'll with the