E. A. Hollowell

“ The most important and difficult part of producing a large crop is getting a stand. Enough soil moisture to sprout the seed and establish the seedlings is the greatest factor in obtaining a stand. When established, common crimson clover usually produces a good crop. ”

“ Crimson clover is a prolific seed-producing plant and yields of 5 to 10 bushels per acre are common, depending upon the thickness of the stand, the amount of growth that is produced, and the care exercised in harvesting the seed. The florets are self-fertile, but bees are effective in tripping and transferring the pollen, with a consequent increase in the number of seed per head. The placing of colonies of honeybees adjacent to blooming fields will effectively increase pollination. ”

“ Seed may be harvested by hand from the clover between the row crop, and the remaining clover straw allowed to mat and serve as a mulch, or the entire plant may be permitted to form a mulch. A volunteer seeding may be secured in this way, especially in the northern part of this region, but attempts to follow such a practice should be tried on a small scale until experience is gained. When used in orchards, crimson clover is often allowed to mature, after which it is disked into the soil. Occasionally a volunteer seeding may be obtained in the fall. ”

“ Frequently a single large application of phosphate and potash fertilizer is sufficient to produce two crops of crimson clover before it becomes necessary to make another application. In some soils the addition of such minor elements as boron may improve growth and increase seed yields. ”

“ Besides being an excellent pasture plant and furnishing plenty of hay, it protects the soil during fall, winter, and spring, prevents soil washing, and provides green manure for soil improvement. This legume has the distinct advantage of producing large quantities of seed that can be easily harvested and sown without the use of expensive machinery. Crimson clover is a native of Europe and is widely grown in France, Hungary, and other central and southern European countries. ”

“ Crimson clover makes excellent hay when cut at the early bloom stage although the yield may be slightly reduced. For maximum yields it should be harvested in full bloom. The hay is easily cured either in the swath or in the windrow. Fewer leaves are lost and less bleaching occurs in windrowed hay. Although yields as high as 21⁄2 tons per acre are not uncommon on fertile soil, 11⁄2 to 2 tons is an ordinary production.
Crimson clover is an ideal green-manure crop. ”

“ The seed may be either drilled or broadcast, but drilling will give more uniform stands.
Fertilizers
When the crop is planted on extremely poor soils, good stands and growth cannot be expected. Such soil conditions may be improved by the application of manure and phosphate fertilizers or by turning [Pg 4] under such crops as cowpeas, soybeans, or lespedeza. In many soils of low fertility the use of 50 to 100 pounds per acre of a nitrogen fertilizer will encourage early seedling growth and establishment. ”

“ When crimson clover is planted in fall the leaves develop from the crown and form a rosette, which enlarges whenever weather conditions are favorable. In spring, flower stems develop rapidly and end their growth with long pointed flower heads. Seed forms and the plant dies with the coming of hot summer weather. The seed is yellow and is about twice as large as red clover seed and more rounded. ”

“ After the grain crop is removed the soil is plowed or disked and allowed to settle. This is followed by light harrowing or disking when necessary to kill weed seedlings. Before the clover is seeded the soil should be firmly packed, because a loose cloddy seedbed is the forerunner of failure. ”

“ Farmers often use a mixture of 5 pounds of red clover and 10 pounds of crimson clover per acre with excellent results. The first growth of the mixture may be grazed or harvested for hay or for crimson clover seed, while the second crop is wholly red clover. ”

“ Of the total amount of seed normally used approximately 60 percent is of foreign origin, coming principally from Hungary and France. Most of the domestic crimson clover seed offered on the market is produced in south-central Tennessee. While white-flowered strains and others differing in maturity have been isolated, they are little used. Claims have been made that locally grown seed is superior to seed from other sources including that of foreign origin. ”

“ Under ordinary conditions 12 to 15 pounds of hulled seed to the acre will give good stands unless there is lack of soil moisture. Depending upon the quantity of chaff and pieces of stems, 45 to 60 pounds of unhulled seed is comparable with 15 pounds of hulled seed. Crimson clover may be sown from the middle of July until November, depending upon the location, with the expectation of obtaining a good stand. The later it is seeded the less growth can be expected and the more readily winterkilling occurs. Early establishment becomes more important as plantings are extended northward. ”

“ As crimson clover shatters easily when ripe, cutting with the mower when the heads are damp with dew or rain is recommended. If it is allowed to stand too long after ripening a beating rain will shatter much of the seed. After a few days of curing, the seed is hulled with an ordinary clover huller, with a grain separator equipped with hulling attachments, or by a combine equipped with pick-up attachments or used as a stationary machine. The less the clover is handled the less seed will be lost by shattering. ”

“ As crimson clover reaches maturity the hairs of the heads and stems become hard and tough. When grazed continuously or when fed as hay at this stage of maturity large masses of the hairs are liable to form into hair balls in stomachs of horses and mules. Occasionally the hair balls are responsible for the death of animals. ”

“ It will thrive both on sandy and clay soils and is tolerant of ordinary soil acidity. On very poor soils, stands are difficult to obtain and the growth is stunted. The use of phosphate and potash fertilizers and manure on such soils will help to obtain good stands.
Crimson clover may also be grown successfully as a summer annual in northern Maine, Michigan, and Minnesota. Winter culture can be extended into Kentucky, southern Missouri, southern Indiana, and Ohio, provided varieties are grown that are adapted to these sections and the seed is sown in fertile soils early in August. ”

“ Crimson clover does well in cool, humid weather and is tolerant of winter conditions where the temperature does not become severe or too changeable. It may be planted from midsummer to late fall. In the northern part of the region early seeding and growth are necessary for the seedlings to survive the winter. ”

“ Crimson clover makes little growth during cold periods in winter. Under such conditions, to prevent close grazing, it is necessary to remove the animals or shift them to other fields that have not been grazed. ”

“ Other such common names as German clover and scarlet clover are frequently used. In general the leaves and stems resemble those of red clover, but are distinguished by the rounded tips of the leaves and more hair on both leaves and stems. ”