MISCELLANEOUS PLANTS. 229 



seed abundantly. On lands not too foul with weeds, 

 it is able to maintain itself for years by the process 

 of self-seeding, if not kept grazed too closely or har- 

 vested too early in the season. But if harvesting is 

 deferred until some of the seed scatters, the feeding 

 value of the hay will be lessened. 



As Japan clover is a legume, its growth is of 

 course beneficial to the land. It is useful as a pas- 

 ture crop and also in producing hay. The taste 

 resembles that of white clover, and it is relished by 

 live stock. Although it responds to cultivation it 

 grows in a wild state in some parts of Louisiana. 

 It starts late in the season and has no little power 

 to withstand the influences of dry weather. It is 

 what may be termed a summer or an autumn crop. 



In preparing the soil for Japan clover it ought 

 to be given sufficient cultivation to clean it on and 

 near the surface, otherwise on rich lands the weeds 

 will greatly injure the growth of the clover. On 

 poor land that is foul, the clover will better resist 

 the encroachments of weeds than on rich land thus 

 infested. It has some adaptation for hard, dry, 

 clay soils, but will grow better on soils where the 

 conditions are more favorable. As this plant does 

 not grow until the weather becomes warm, nothing 

 can be gained by sowing it earlier. For pasture or 

 for hay, twelve to fifteen pounds of seed are sown 

 per acre. Since it is a summer rather than a spring 

 plant, the pasture which it furnishes is seasonable. 



SAINFOIN. 



Sainfoin (Onobrychis sativa) is sometimes 

 called esparcette or asperset. The German spelling 



