408 FORAGE PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE 



on account of " clover sickness." Apart from this it is 

 valuable for growing on land too wet for red clover and 

 in mixed hay meadows because of its longer life. 



No accurate statistical information is available, but 

 alsike is probably most abundantly grown in the following 

 states and provinces ; namely, Ontario, Wisconsin, Mich- 

 igan, Minnesota, Ohio, New York, Maryland, Virginia. 



482. Culture. The culture of alsike differs but little 

 from that of red clover, and it may be used for the same 

 purposes. Seed is sown alone or with a nurse-crop, either 

 in fall or in spring. In Europe winter seeding is a com- 

 mon method. The rate of seeding is 8 to 12 pounds an 

 acre, if seeded alone. Fields last well for two or three 

 years and often for four or five years. Usually the sec- 

 ond season gives the best yields. 



Alsike is, however, best adapted to growing in mixtures, 

 especially in low or wet soils. In mixtures the alsike 

 is abundant for two years and then rapidly disappears. 



483. Hay. Alsike may be cut for hay over a longer 

 period than red clover, as the main stems continue to 

 grow with the production of new flowers. It is usually 

 recommended to cut when in full bloom. Under favor- 

 able circumstances two cuttings are obtained, but the 

 second is nearly always smaller than the first. If the 

 cutting of the first crop is delayed, the second is reduced. 



German records of hay yields are as follows : Pinckert, 

 4000 to 5600 pounds to an acre ; Werner, 2600 to 4500 

 pounds ; Schober, for the first cutting, 3000 pounds. 



Yields on an acre are recorded by American experiment 

 stations as follows : Pennsylvania, 3956 pounds ; Kansas, 

 3110 pounds; Illinois, 2400 pounds; Michigan Upper 

 Peninsula, 6800 pounds ; Minnesota, 5860 pounds ; 

 Utah, 2780 pounds. 



