130 THE PEOPLE'S FARM AND STOCK CYCLOPEDIA. 



to them. These are the " Common Red," of which we have two 

 varieties, the larger of which is called the " Sapling," and also 

 " Large English," and in Europe goes by the name of " Cow 

 Grass." The " White," or " Dutch," the " Alsike," and " Al- 

 falfa," or " Lucerne." The common red and white need no de- 

 scription, as they are familiar to all. The " Sapling " is of larger 

 and coarser growth than the common red, and some weeks later 

 in ripening, which makes it valuable to SOAV for hay with tim- 

 othy, as it will be ready to cut with the latter grass, and will 

 not only be supported during its growth by it and prevented 

 from lodging, but can be much more easily cured. It also grows 

 finer when mixed with timothy. It makes a wonderful growth 

 and is, I think, of much greater value for fertilizing purposes 

 than the common red, and so far as my experience goes, makes 

 as good pasture. The heaviest crops of hay we have ever cut 

 on " East View Farm," were when we had sown two or three 

 pounds of this mammoth clover seed with the timothy. I think 

 that the hay from this variety of clover is more easily cured than 

 from the common red, one reason being that it is not so sappy, 

 and another that, being cut later, the weather is usually hotter 

 and better for curing. I have found that it is relished by the 

 stock as well and eaten with as little waste. The sapling clover 

 seeds in the first crop, and does not make a heavy second growth 

 like the common red. I would advise every farmer to give it a 

 trial, but as it might not succeed as well on all soils as on our 

 limestone, it would be prudent to experiment with a single field 

 for a year or two before substituting it entirely. 



Alsike clover is an intermediate variety between the white 

 and common red. It grows nearly as tall as the latter, with a 

 much finer stem and foliage, and has a pale red or pinkish blos- 

 som. It is a perennial, extremely hardy, and will yield good 

 crops for eight or ten years. It branches very heavily, and 

 throws out many stalks from one root, and so requires but thin 

 seeding ; the roots strike very deeply into the subsoil. The period 

 of bloom is much longer than with red clover, and it will be 

 ready to cut with timothy. Only half as much seed will be re- 

 quired as of red clover, and it may be sown either spring or fall. 



