WHITE CLOVER AS FOEAOE 251 



WHITE CLOVER 



White clover is not suitable for soiling forage or 

 hay, but is very useful in the formation of pas- 

 tures, especially on low -lying lands. On good land 

 it lasts from four to ^mq years. It is superior to 

 red clover in thriving on lands of inferior quality, 

 standing pasturing well, and possessing higher 

 nutritive value. Sometimes the creeping stems 

 and foliage become too luxuriant, when it may act 

 injuriously in suppressing other plants. 



White clover is less sensitive to climate than 

 red clover. It bears drought very well, although its 

 roots confine themselves mainly to the superficial 

 layer of the soil. In dry seasons the old branches 

 do not lengthen, and growth is confined almost 

 entirely to the principal stem. White clover suc- 

 ceeds best in a moist soil, containing lime and an 

 abundance of humus. It can also adapt itself to 

 sandy soils, which are not too loose and dry, pro- 

 viding the surface contains sufficient nutriment. 



The parent stem sends out creeping branches ; 

 these in turn branch and at intervals give off 

 shoots. If conditions are favorable, the branches 

 become long and extend in all directions ; in this 

 way a large surface is soon covered. 



If the plant has not been sown with a cereal 

 crop, full development is made the first year, 

 flowering early in spring, but rather later than red 



