CHAPTER V. 



. PLANTS OF THE CLOVER FAMILY. 



Many kinds of clover are now being grown in 

 this country. Some of these are indigenous, but 

 those possessed of highest economic value have been 

 introduced from Europe. While each kind has 

 a mission of usefulness in some section or sections 

 of the continent, only a few are suitable in 

 any marked degree for being grown as soiling food. 

 The chief of these are the common or medium red, 

 the mammoth, alsike, crimson and alfalfa. As the 

 methods of growing the first four varieties are in 

 many respects very similar, they will be considered 

 together. Alfalfa will be discussed by itself, since 

 it differs considerably from the other clovers men- 

 tioned in habits of growth, and for this reason 

 requires different management. 



MEDIUM, MAMMOTH, ALSIKE AND CRIMSON CLOVER. 



Medium red clover (Trifolium pratense) is 

 biennial and perennial in its habit of growth, accord- 

 ing to the climatic and other conditions under which 

 it is grown. It differs from the other three kinds 

 in the continuity of its growth throughout all or 

 nearly all of the growing season. Because of this 

 peculiarity it usually produces two cuttings of soiling 



68 



