Table 9. Forage Yields (Pounds of Dry Matter Per Acre) and Percent Clover in 

 Mixture for Eleven Seed Lots, Dover, Nev/ Hampshire, 1956* 



Seed Lot Yield Percent Cloverf 



1. Commercial Ladino 



2. FC 24998 (Registered Pilgrim) 



3. FC 24126 (N. California) 



4. FC 32620 (Certified Pilgrim) 



5. FC 31985 (Cert. New Zealand White Clover) 



6. FC 23851 (Pilgrim) 



7. FC 24657 (Italian) 

 8 Vermont Polyploid 

 9. FC 24669 (Pilgrim) 



10. FC 24818 (Composite of Western Seed) 



11. FC 24128 (S. California) 



Average 

 L.S.D. (.05)$ 



* Yields based on three plots of clover seeded alone for each source, three harvests, 

 t Percent clover based on dry weights of botanical separations made on three 

 plots of clover-bromegrass mixture. 



t Pountis re(|uire(l for significant difference between seed lots. 



Significantly higher yields were obtained in the Ladino-broniegrass mixture 

 which averaged 5.697 pounds of dry matter compared to 3.554 pounds in 

 the Ladino plots. 



Results at most stations in the Northeast have indicated that at present 

 there is no outstanding variety of Ladino clover (2). Basic research is 

 needed on the life history and physiology of Ladino clover. Research is 

 also needed on the pathological organisms and insects which attack the 

 plant, and their interaction with various environmental conditions in re- 

 ducing stands. Definiie breedino; objectives cannot be determined until 

 such information is available. Recent research (1) ( 3 ) at Michigan and 

 Wisconsin has indicated that the taproots and stolons of individual plants 

 rarely live more than two or three years. It is believed that death of the 

 taproot of the original plants is directly associated with the reduced yield 

 often encountered after one or two harvest seasons. A critical problem in 

 Ladino research is to determine the nature of the taproot, when and why 

 death occurs, and, if possible, to develop more persistent varieties. 



It is known that various crown and root rots, viruses, and many leaf 

 diseases occur on Ladino clover in New Hampshire. Their relative import- 

 ance has not yet been determined. A breeding program is now underway 

 at the New Hampshire Station to obtain disease resistance and persistence. 

 Figure 5 shows a breeding nursery in the second year of growth. Recent 

 support on the pathological phases by the United States Department of 

 Agriculture will aid greatly in this work. 



Since Pilgrim has produced somewhat higher yields in New Hampshire 

 than most other sources of Ladino clover, the Experiment Station has 

 recommended its use when available. Also, use of a known variety provides 

 an assurance of genetic identity not found when commercial Ladino seed 

 is purchased. The buildup of seed supplies of this variety has been slow 



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