The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-01-21
Big Cause for
Clover Failure
Acreage Declining Because
of Spread of Anthrac-
nose in South.

Prepared by the United States Department
s.ht OF Agriculture.)
For some years the acreage in red
clover has been declining quite as
much in the southern and southeast
ern parts of the clover belt as else
where. The area in question includes
Delaware, Maryland. Virginia, West
Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee.
Anthracnose disease, according to the
United States Department of Agricul-
ture, is the chief cause for red clover
failure in these states. This disease
is described in Farmers Bulletin 1910
+, just issued by the department. The
bulletin also reports on some expert
ences with red clover seed from differ
ent sources when seeded in infected
territory and calls specific attention
to the only remedy-the use of seed
produced by plants resistant to
0nthracnose disease.
Attack of Anthracnose.
Antnracnose may attack the clover
plants either in the Seeding stage
or when they are fully matured. 1t
Is the injury to the crown Of the plant
which, between July and early Sep
TENDER, causes heaviest losses in
spring seedlings and which may prac-
tically destroy stand Of clover. Many
of the cases of so-called winter injury
are no doubt due to a severe thinning
of the stand during the summer or to
the death of plants during the winter
as result of the earlier injuries
caused by the disease.
The best means of combating clover
anthracnose is by the development and
use of strains of clover resistant to
its attacks, a method advocated years
ago by the Tennessee agricultural
experiment station. At present there
Is only one distinct strain known to
be highly resistant, says the depart.
ment, though there appears no reason
why other highly resistant strains
should not be developed. locally
throughout the infected area The
one resistant strain known was de-
veloped several years ago by the Ten
nessee station. Under climatic condi-
tons Of Tennessee and neighboring
states it is capable of maintaining a
heavy clover stand in spite of attacks
Of anthracnose. 1t does not, however,
show up to such advantage when
sown in northern states. The be-
havior Of this strain demonstrates the
advantage to be gained by developing
and using clover which has become
acclimated and suited to the local con-
ditions under which it is to be grown
The seed supply of this Tennessee
strain is very limited at present, how
ever.
Develop Resistant Strains.
Highly resistant strains can be de-
veloped by farmers themselves If they
will take the trouble to save seed from
plants that survive and mature in a
diseased field. The very fact that
some plants are able to live and ma
ture seed in spite Of the presence of
anthracnose indicates their resist
ance to its attacks. Organized efforts
should be made by local state authori-
ties to stimulate production of resist
ant seed and demand for such seed.
AS long as seed of unknown origin
must be used the department advises
seeding in late summer or early fall
wherever experience has not shown
this to be impracticable. Seeding at
this time will give the clover plants a
chance to escape the early attacks
of the disease and produce hay crop
even though there may be no second
growth.
Copies. Of this bulletin may be OBJ
tanned as long as the supply lasts by
writing to the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture, Washington,
d. G.