CHAPTER VI 

 THE CLOVERS 



CLOVERS are the most widely grown family of legumes 

 among the farm crops. There are many different types 

 of clover, such as red clover, white clover, alsike clover and 

 crimson clover. By far the most important of these is the 

 red clover, especially throughout the northeastern quarter 

 of the United States. The great red-clover section reaches 

 from Maine to Virginia, and as far west as the Missouri 

 River. Either alone, or mixed with grasses for hay and 

 pastures, red clover claims from one-eighth to one-third of 

 all the cultivated land throughout the eastern and north 

 central states. It is now also being successfully grown in 

 Montana, Washington, Oregon and in the far Southwest. 



1. The Red-Chi-cr Plant 



Red clover is so common a plant that it can usually be 

 studied near at hand in the field. Every pupil should there- 

 fore examine the growing plant, and bring a complete speci- 

 men, including the root, to school for further reference. 

 Also secure a plant of timothy, the grass that is commonly 

 grown with red clover. 



TOPICS FOR INVESTIGATION 



Study of the red-clover plant. Compare the clover 

 and timothy plants (1) as to root systems, (2) stem and 

 mode of branching, (3) mode of flowering and seed bear- 

 ing. 



119 



