OTHER CLOVERS 419 



On account of its wide adaptations to both soils and 

 climate, sweet clover is valuable to use in places where 

 neither red clover nor alfalfa gives satisfactory results. 



501. Agricultural history. Sweet clover was probably 

 first cultivated in western Asia in the same general region 

 where alfalfa and red clover were first used in agriculture, 

 but neither in Asia nor Europe has the culture of the plant 

 ever been of much importance. It was introduced into 

 North America at least as early as 1739, when it was 

 found by Clayton in Virginia. It was recorded from New 

 England in 1785. For 20 years or more it has been 

 utilized -on the black calcareous soils of Mississippi and 

 Alabama, where it grows luxuriantly. In more recent 

 times it has been grown in many other states. 



It is a very aggressive plant, spreading along roads 

 and railways and in irrigated sections along the ditches. 

 Its spread has also been greatly increased by the habit of 

 bee keepers of scattering seed in waste places so as to 

 provide pasturage for bees. 



On account of its tendency to spread, sweet clover 

 has at times been feared as a weed, but it rarely causes 

 any trouble in cultivated land. 



502. Seeding. Seeding may be done either by broad- 

 casting or with a drill. Much of the seed is " hard " and 

 does not germinate the first season. According to its 

 viability, from 20 to 30 pounds of hulled seed should be 

 used to an acre if broadcasted, or somewhat more if the 

 seed is unhulled. Werner says the usual rate in Germany 

 is 26 pounds, if broadcasted, and half this amount when 

 drilled. 



503. Securing a stand. On account of the way sweet 

 clover spreads as a weed in waste ground, it has commonly 

 been supposed that it would be exceedingly easy to obtain 



