HuBAM Clover. 321 



HUBAM CLOVER 

 {Melilotus alba, var. Annua) 



By H. A. Mei.le. B.A. (Agr.). N.D.A., Ufficei m Charge, 

 Botanical Exiieriment Stations, Pretoria. 



The necessity of winter feed for live stock is now recognized by most 

 South African farmers, yet it is surprising to find how few attempt 

 improving their native pasturage by judicious grazing and laying 

 down permanent pastures. In other countries it is considered a 

 fundamental part of good farming to make provision for an adequate 

 supply of food for stock during winter months. South Africa is 

 essentially a pastoral country, the greatest portion of it being devoted 

 to animal husbandry, and, as a general rule, all live stock are 

 dependent for their sustenance on the natural veld herbage. The veld 

 during winter, in most parts of the Union, cannot keep stock in a 

 thriving condition, and every breeder knows that stock should be kept 

 in that condition to obtain the liest results. 



The Botanical Division has been investigating these problems of 

 suitable pasture grasses for the last twelve years, and has now pure 

 cultures under cultivation of most of the best native grasses and also 

 exotics from different parts of the globe. Great difficulty has been 

 experienced in finding' a legume which Avould not only be able to 

 adapt itself to our adverse conditions, but w^ould also grow with grass 

 and not become choked. vSome clovers, especially English Wild 

 White, have been found to grow very well in conjunction with Kikuyu 

 grass. But, owing to the exorbitant price of the seed, and the 

 moisture requirements of this clover, it can only be grown under 

 favourable conditions and under irrigation. At last it seems that we 

 have a plant that will answer our requirements, and that plant is 

 Hubam clover. 



DESCRiniox. 



Hubam clover (Melilotus alba, var. annua) is a variety of sweet 

 clover (stink klawer). It makes about the same growth in one season 

 that the ordinary sweet clovers do in two. Most of the common clovers 

 are biennial, or two-year clovers; if seed is sown in spring the clover 

 makes a small growth the first seaso-n, remains dormant during the 

 winter, completes its growth, matures seed, and dies the next summer. 

 In contrast to this, Hubam clover continues its growth until it reaches 

 ;i height of from 3-8 feet within 3-7 months from the time the seed is 

 planted, matures its seed, and dies, all within the one season. 



The following description of Hubam clover is taken from an 

 article by Mr. W. S. Hall on the sid^ject, which appeared in this 

 Journal, November, 1921 (page 463): — 



"It is an herbaceous plant, with trifoliate leaves; the flowers are 

 disposed in long-stalked, loose racemes growing from the bases of the 

 leaves, and are white in colour; the seed-pods arc marked with 

 irregularly netted veins, and each contains one seed. In the early 

 stages growth is slow, but subsequeiitly firm stems are foimed and a 



11 



