JAPAN CLOVER 157 



timothy and Bermuda grass ate dried up or at a 

 standstill in the pastures, Japan clover grows vigor- 

 ously and luxuriantly holds its green and palatable 

 qualities for stock until the heavy frosts come on in 

 the fall. 



Besides this, once started it spreads rapidly and 

 crowds out the common and worthless plants of 

 the neighborhood. Because of its thick manner 

 of forage it withstands tramping and the closest 

 grazing of stock. It is successful as far north as 

 Maryland and as far west as Kansas and Texas. 

 Its greatest usefulness is from Virginia southwest 

 to the gulf. Japan Clover is an annual and dies 

 down each year, leaving its stems, leaves and roots 

 to decay and enrich the soil. From the soil which 

 falls to the ground or which is scattered by the 

 wind or in the manure of grazing animals the crop 

 of the following year is produced. It is not a weed 

 and can be eradicated by plowing as easily as red 

 clover. It is a low spreading plant, standing from 

 8 to 12 inches in height. On poor, dry soils it 

 spreads out flat and may not exceed 3 or 4 inches 

 in height. Farther to the south, where it makes 

 good hay, it frequently attains a height of 2 feet 

 and as much as 2 tons of hay are made to the acre. 

 It is, however, a crop primarily for pasture and for 

 soil renovation. To secure the best quality of 

 forage it should be kept pastured rather closely, 

 as the more mature plants get woody near the base. 

 It is practically impossible to graze so closely as 

 to prevent reseeding. This clover is seldom seeded 

 in pastures, but is allowed to come in naturally. 

 It is so valuable, however, that this is too slow a 

 method to obtain its rejuvenating effects for the 

 land. 



