" SUMMARY OF RED CLOVER 165 



is not superior, and is perhaps inferior to timothy hay in 

 feeding value." 



SUMMARY OF RED CLOVER. 



Red clover has done more than any other legume to 

 benefit American agriculture. It is best adapted to the 

 needs of the American farmer because it is so quickly 

 and easily established, and commonly so hardy and 

 thrifty. It is adapted to all of Canada, and the United 

 States north of the Gulf States and east of the Missouri 

 River. If one finds one's soil responding better to alsike 

 one should try the effect of drainage and good liming, 

 preferably with carbonate of lime (ground limestone), 

 which will in most instances make red clover succeed, 

 especially if one has added phosphorus and vegetable 

 matter to the soil. Red clover is a better plant than al- 

 sike clover because it is larger-growing and deeper-rooted 

 and more abundantly supplied with nitrogen-securing bac- 

 teria. It is not so good a plant as alfalfa where alfalfa 

 may be grown, because alfalfa gives more and better 

 forage and also enriches the soil more rapidly than does 

 red clover. There are degrees in good farming. Alsike 

 clover-growing might be called the first degree, red clover 

 comes with the second degree and alfalfa with the third 

 and highest degree. It is nearly true that any soil that 

 will grow red clover will also grow alfalfa, if it is made 

 a little drier by tiles, a little richer in carbonate of lime 

 and phosphorus and given a little more humus. While 

 one is learning to do the best thing one should keep one's 

 red clover and strive to make it as strong as possible, 



