WHITE CLOVER 



347 



grow high enough for hay production, but with Kentucky 

 blue grass forms the best pasture combination for a large 

 part of the country. The botanical name, Trifolium repens, 

 indicates its trailing hab- 

 it. The plant is peren- 

 nial, with small, long- 

 stalked leaves and small 

 heads of white or pinkish 

 flowers on long stems. 

 The seeds are only about 

 half as long as those of 

 red clover, and are orange 

 or yellow in color. The 

 plant grows and blooms 

 practically throughout 

 the season. 



White clover is occa- 

 sionally sown in pasture 

 mixtures at the rate of 

 from 2 to 5 pounds to the 

 acre, though the natural 

 growth of this plant is 

 generally depended on to 

 produce a good stand in 

 pastures. Its prostrate 

 or trailing habit material- 

 ly helps it in its spread, 

 as the stems root at the 

 joints and produce new 



plants. It is for this reason and on account of the small 

 size of the seeds that white clover spreads so rapidly, and 

 that such a small quantity of seed is needed to obtain a 

 good stand. White clover is an important honey plant, and 

 is also generally used in lawn mixtures. With blue grass 

 it makes a close, even turf which stands frequent cutting. 



Figure 118. — Alsike U) and while clover 

 (2). Note the differences in habit of 

 growth and the manner in which roots are 

 produced all along the stem of white clover. 

 It is thia character which makes it ao 

 persistent in pastures. 



