188 MEADOWS AND PASTURES 



sow it, but rather than have the soil lie bare during winter, by all 

 means sow rye and vetch. As a soiling crop this rye and vetch 

 mixture is superior to the crimson clover." 



Japan Clover (Lespedeza striata). Japan, clover came 

 to us probably in packing about tea chests or china ware 

 in 1850. It spread rapidly over the South during the 

 Civil War, and is now found nearly everywhere south of 

 the Ohio River, especially on poor soils where bluegrass 

 and other perennial grasses are not seen. It is most 

 abundant and luxuriant in the Gulf States. It has an 

 astonishing ability to grow on poor soils, yet makes most 

 growth on rich soils. Ordinarily it is only 4" to 6" high ; 

 in Mississippi and Louisiana on rich bottom lands it may 

 be 2' or more high and make 3 or more tons of hay to 

 the acre at one cutting. Japan clover is abundantly sup- 

 plied with large, firm nodules and is an efficient nitrogen- 

 gatherer, greatly enriching soils on which it grows. It is 

 an annual clover and comes each year from seed. It seeds 

 well, and, once established, is nearly permanent unless the 

 land is cultivated. Animals can hardly graze it close 

 enough to prevent its seeding, since when close-grazed it 

 sends out, close to the earth, branches that bloom and 

 bear seed. When undisturbed it has an erect growth, es- 

 pecially when growing thick on rich soil. 



All animals relish Japan clover and thrive on it. It 

 is invaluable as an admixture with Bermuda pasture. It 

 is said to uproot broom sedge, though I doubt its ability 

 to do this on ordinary soils. It is not insistent in demand- 

 ing 1 a good soil or a soil rich in lime ; in fact, it will grow 

 on a greater variety of inferior soils than any other use- 

 ful clover. Japan clover "comes of itself" on many soils, 



