CRIMSON CLOVER.

Waikato Argus, Volume II, Issue 97, 20 February 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

CRIMSON CLOVER.

A short time since a paragraph went the rounds of the New Zealand papers concerning a crop of crimson clover grown by Mr J. S. White, of Ohoka, Canterbury. A Waikato resident, who put himself in communication with that gentleman, asking information regarding the plant, received the courteous reply printed below, and which we have pleasure in printing for the information of the farmers of this district generally. Crimson clover is a most inexpensive crop to grow, and its culture is simplicity itself. In Sutton's Farmers' Year Book, the method of cultivation is given as follows :—" In August or early in September (February or March here) the stubble is harrowed, the seed sown at the rate of 24 to 281 b. per acre, bushed in and rolled down. The crop comes in for cutting in the following June (December)." The seeding of 24 to 281 b. seems to us to be an exceptionally heavy oue, and we should think a much lighter oue would suffice, say 121 b. ; still that is a question that those who sow will soon ascertain for themselves. It is a crop that is apparently well worth a trial. Mr White, it will be noticed, has found it preferable to rape for fattening his lambs, and it is not so precarious crop to grow. The following is Mr White's letter : " In reply to your encruiry, re Trifolium Incarnatum, I have pleasure in telling you that I like the plant very much. It grows freely, but is not suited for grazing, the stock trample it dosvn too much ; it "grows about 2 ft. high and is more suitable for soiling purposes. Last autumn I sowed on stubble, that was fairly clean and only scarified and harrowed, then sown, chain-harrowed and rolled, and my sheep have been on it ever since. There is nothing but bare ground now to be seen, yet the sheep are in goon condition. This spring I sowed 15 acres on a last year's turnip stubble. I have a lot of lambs on it, and they are coming on much faster than the one 3 on rape, which hitherto, I have always considered the best fattening feed. Fully three-fourths of the crop has beou trampled under foot, but it will make the best of fertilizers for next crop. I find all stock arc very fond of it. (Since receiving your letter f have been out to inspect a very small patch that was sown about Christmas. It is in places twelve to fifteen inches high. You will see I am trying ic at different times, but have never ploughed for it. I think the plant has come out to stay with us, but the he3t way to glow it is as a forage crop, the same as tares. The crop here (Canterbury) ought to be in now, so as to get a fair height before winter, but with you (iu Waikato) I should think any time would suit. As soon as I cau remove grain from a ()0- aud 24-acres paddocks I intend sowing seed on them by simply scarifying as before."