Rural School Leaflet 943 



ij ton of hay was made to yield 3 tons by applying the following 

 fertilizer per acre : 



200 pounds sodium nitrate 



:oo pounds acid phosphate 

 50 pounds kainit 

 This is a good fertilizer for most old timothy meadows. 



in. ALSIKE CLOVER 



Alsike clover seems to have first come into extensive cultivation in 

 Sweden, in the village of Syke, or Alsike. It was introduced into France 

 about 1800 and into England 30 years later, and probably into America 

 about the same period. It has not been in extensive cultivation for a 

 great length of time ; the contrary is true of red clover and white clover, 

 both of which have been cultivated at least 2,000 years. 



It would be interesting to find out how long alsike has been cultivated 

 in your neighborhood. 



A study of the plant. — In June it is possible to find full-grown plants 

 of white, alsike, and red clover. If you cannot study the plants at this time, 

 they should be collected and dried, or, better, preserved in a formalin 

 solution. * 



On comparing the three clovers it will be found that the alsike has leaves 

 resembling those of the white clover, but the general appearance and the 

 stem are more like those of the red clover. Alsike also has smooth stems, 

 as has white clover, but the blossom has more red than does that of white 

 clover and it is larger. In fact, the blossom appears to be about halfway 

 between white clover and red clover. Alsike is supposed to be the 

 result of a cross between these two clovers, and it really does partake 

 somewhat of the characteristics of each. 



The alsike clover, however, has one quality that the red and the white 

 do not have, and this is quite important to know. Red clover and white 

 clover will not grow on many soils, which are said to be " acid," until 

 large quantities of lime are added to " sweeten " the soil. The alsike 

 will grow on acid soil, and is found growing well in many places where 

 red clover cannot be grown. Redtop grass also will grow on the same 

 kinds of soil that are suited to alsike, so we often sow redtop and alsike 

 clover together for meadow or pasture. 



Uses for alsike clover. — Alsike clover is a valuable feed, either as hay 

 or pasture; but since it does not yield so heavy a crop as does red clover 

 for hay, and is not so long-lived as white clover for pasture, the alsike 



* A good way to keep green material for future study is to preserve it in a formalin solution. Make 

 the solution by adding two ounces of formalin (costing lo cents) to one gallon of water. Keep the solution 

 in glass fruit jars. At any time when it is desired to preserve green material, merely place it in the solution 

 and leave it there. The material will keep fresh and green for several months, or even years. 



