194 



ELEMENTS OF AGRICULTURE 



feed the clover and mixed hay. The chemical analysis 

 of clover hay would seem to make it as valuable as timothy. 

 It is better for cattle and sheep, but is not desirable for 

 horses. This is probably the reason for the low price. 

 Clover seems to be chiefly responsible for the disease 

 of horses called heaves. It is said that heaves does not 

 occur in regions where clover is not used. 



183. Alsike Clover (Trifolium hybridum). This was 

 formerly thought to be a hybrid between red and white 

 clover, hence its specific name, hybridum. It is not now 

 considered to be a hybrid. 



It is smaller, earlier, and more decumbent than red 

 clover. Its greatest use is to grow on soils where red 



FIG. 100. A white clover plant grown from a single seed, showing 

 spreading habit 



clover fails or does poorly. It will grow on soils that are 

 too wet or too dry for red clover. It will grow on more 

 acid soils and on poorer soils, is less subject to disease, 

 and is less severely injured by the root-borer. In the 

 county where the writer lives, it is the only clover sown 

 on the poorest and most acid soils. On the fairly good 



