OTHER CLOVERS 413 



It will grow in any sort of soil, provided moisture is 

 abundant, but it thrives best in loams and clay loams 

 rich in humus, and fairly well drained. 



Through all the moisture areas in America, it is so well 

 adapted that it holds its own spontaneously, and in old 

 pastures gradually becomes more abundant unless the 

 soil is poor or droughty. From the fact that cattle avoid 

 the flowers, spontaneous reseeding is continuous. 



White clover also grows well in shady places and often 

 makes up a considerable portion of the ground cover in 

 orchards. 



Phosphatic fertilizers have a marked effect on white 

 clover and where these are applied, the growth of the clover 

 is usually greatly stimulated. Potash fertilizers also have 

 a similar but less marked effect. 



492. Importance of white clover. With the exception 

 of blue-grass, and possibly Bermuda and redtop, white 

 clover is the most important perennial pasture plant in 

 America. It is nearly always an element in blue-grass 

 pastures, but in the best blue-grass areas it is not abun- 

 dant/ Otherwise it is always an important element of 

 mixed pastures, and in the cotton region is more impor- 

 tant than blue-grass. 



White clover is said not to be nearly as liable as red 

 clover to cause bloating, but as it is usually mixed with 

 grasses, this is rarely apt to occur. Under some condi- 

 tions it causes horses to " slobber." 



Apart from its use as pasture, white clover is very much 

 used as an element in lawn mixtures. 



493. Seeding. White clover is rarely sown except in 

 mixtures with other grasses, and after it is once established 

 usually maintains itself indefinitely. The usual rate of 

 pure seeding recommended is 9 to 13 pounds to an acre. 



