South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-02-23
STOCK-RALSLNG
CRIMSON CLOVER
MAKES GOOD HAY
Valuable Also for EnSiIage and
Pasture and improves Soil
When PIoWed Under.

The fact that crimson clover
makes a good growth early in the
spring. which furnishes green forage
and splendid pasture for all farm
stock, is one of the chief reasons
why it should he more extensively
grown. For feeding purposes it may
be used as a soiling crop. hay. Tn.
.silase. and pasture. Il is OF special
value as "a green manure crop TO in
crease the humus and nitrogen con-
tent of the soils upon which it is
produced Even when cut for hay
or seed the stubble and roots which
remain greatly increase the soils
fertility. These advantages. to-
gcther with methods OF caring for
the crop. are discussed i'm farmers
bulletin so, Crimson Glover: Util-
ization, recently published by the
United States department Of agri-
culture
When to cat For Hay.
In order TO obtain the best hay.
crimson clover should be cut when
the most advanced heads are begin
ming 20 show faded flowers at their
base. At this stage the plants con-
tain a maximum amount of protein
and dry matter while the leaves are
still present and the stems are com
paratively green. The danger of
later cutting lies i'm the fact that the
short hairs on the stems and flower
heads soon become dry and stiff,
and i'm this state are more likely to
form hard hair balls in the intestinal
tracts of horses and mules TO which
the hay is fed. These hair balls be-
come solid and compact and nearly
always cause death, but they can be
prevented by feeding d mixture of
hay and by sprinkling the crimson
clover with water . hours before
feeding.
1t is important i'm curing crimson
clover that the leaves be not allowed
to become so dry as to crumble,
which results in a very dusty hay as
we'll as i'm mucn loss. This clover
cures rather readily. and as a re-
suit spontaneous combustion is rare
It is important, however. that the
hay should be free from external
moisture such as dew or rain when
placed in the barn. as this condition
often causes it to develop heat.
Good ROughage Feed For Cows.
Crimson clover hay is considered
by dairymen TO be fully equal. if not
superior, to red or alsike clover as "A
roughage feed for COWS. It's ability
20 make growth very early in the
spring brings it 10 the stage where it
can be cut and fed green TO cattle
at time when most other green
growth is just starting. II furnishes
earlier pasture than any of the other
clovers. but the disadvantage is that
the period when il can be utilized in
this way is comparatively short. This
drawback is overcome by seeding
both late and early strains i'm addi-
ton 10 the ordinary variety. when
the season can be extended two
months or more. IL will stand limit
cd pasturing in the fail; i'm fact. if
sheep and calves are permitted to
craze on il the plants stool out bet
ter.
Value A. Green Manure Crop.
\ full crop OF crimson clover in
Guiding the roots. is about 10 tons
per acre, and when turned under to
improve the soil is ordinarily re-
garded as equivalent in its effects 10
am application of about eight tons
of barnyard manure When the
crop is cut about 40 percent as when
the entire plant is plowed under.
IL has been found desirable 10 pillow
under the crop at least a week OF
I 10 days after il commences to
I bloom. This gives plenty of time for
/ the preparation of the ground for
/ spring-seeded crops. 1t is generally
| considered that a bushel Of crimson
/ clover seed sOWn ON { acres If
ground will increase the succeeding
I yield OF corn about the same amount
as would d ton of commercial fer
tilizer applied at the rate of 800
pounds per acre on Z acres Of simu-
ar land
Crimson clover i'm sections where
I 10 succeeds is regarded as most
satisfactory cover crop ON soils
which otherwise would be eft bare
during the winter. It is especially
valuable i'm orchards, for il makes
rapid growth in the fall reducing
7 the moisture, and 10 some extent the
plant food I'M the soil and inducing
I the trees 10 stop growing and ripen
their wood i'm advance Of cold
weather A good stand of crimson
/ clover not only reduces erosion. but
on sandy fields il prevents the blow
| ing of the soil by wind anc serves %
{ hold the snow and thus conserve the
moisture.