PUBLISHED EVERY WEEK 



AT $1.00 PER ANNUM. 



37th Year. 



CHICAGO, ILL., FEBRUARY 18, 1897. 



No. 7. 



Growing Alsike and White Clover. 



[For the benefit of those who wish to begin to raise Alsike 

 clover for pasturage, hay, seed, and honey, we have concluded 

 to republish the directions as given by Mr. Baldridge, of Kane 

 Co., 111. He has this to say about it : — Editor.] 



Alsllce clover is a native of Sweden, where it grows wild — 

 being both hardy and productive. It is commonly known by 

 the name of Alsike, that being a parish in Sweden where this 

 clover originated. It was brought into cultivation there about 

 100 years ago, was introduced into England in 1834, and 

 soon after found its way into the German States and other 

 parts of Europe, and was finally brought into the United 

 States, througli the Patent Office, in 1853. 



It is a hybrid of the red and white clover. The stem and 

 the branches are finer and less woody than the red, and when 

 cut and cured for hay, it is perfectly free from fuzz or dust. 

 It does not turn black, but remains the color of well-cured 

 timothy. It has, as the engraving shows, numerous branches, 

 and a multitude of blossoms which are very rich in honey. 

 The blossoms at first are white, but soon change to a beautiful 

 pink, and emit considerable fragrance. The leaves are oval, 

 of a pale, green color, and may readily be distinguisht at any 

 stage of their growth from the white or red clover, by the 

 total absence of a pale, white blossom on the upper surface of 

 each leaf. 



It ripens, in the latitude of Chicago, in the latter part of 

 July, but need not be cut until August, if the weather should 

 be unfavorable. The crop of seed is always obtained from 

 this cutting, in which respect it is unlike the common red. It 

 Is not advisable to cut this clover more than once each season, 

 but it may be pastured moderately during the fall. When cut 

 for seed, it may be thresht from the field with a common 

 clover machine ; but, if more convenient, it may be stackt and 

 thresht during the fall or winter. 



Handle the seed carefully, as it shells very easily, but this 

 is a point In its favor, as the land thus becomes re-seeded every 

 year, and so early, that if the autumn proves to be a wet one, 

 nearly every grain will germinate, and a fine growth of new 

 plants will be secured for the following year. The seed is 

 very fine — being about the size and shape of white clover — a 

 pound containing, it is said, about 600,000 grains, or three 

 times as many as the common red. The seed-pods contain 1, 

 2, 3 and sometimes 4 grains, which explains why it is so pro- 

 lific — a moderate yield being from 150 to 200 pounds of seed 

 to the acre. 



When sowed by itself, 4 pounds is plenty for an acre. It 

 is much better to mix Alsike with timothy or the common red, 

 or with both. When thus mixt, they are a help to each 

 other. The Alsike, being a native of a cold climate, does not 

 winter-kill, and, besides, it acts as a mulch in winter and 



spring to the common red, and keeps the latter from being 

 destroyed by the heaving-out process. As the red clover 

 shades the roots of the Alsike, which grows close to the sur- 

 face, it protects the latter from the effects of drouth. The 

 timothy and red clover being both upright growers, lift and 

 keep up the Alsike from the ground, which is very desirable. 

 The stem of the Alsike is too fine to support its many branches 

 in an upright position, and hence is more inclined to " lodge" 

 than the common red. For the reasons given, the combina- 



Alsike Clover— Trifollum HybHdum,. 



tion of the three named plants Is very important, and will 

 prove successful wherever tried. 



When mixt, sow the usual quantity of timothy and red 

 clover, and not more than 2 pounds of Alsike seed to the acre 

 — in fact, one pound will be ample. If wanted for seed, it 

 might then be best to use 2 pounds of Alsike to the acre. 

 Timothy and red clover do no harm, as the crop may be cut so 

 early that the Alsike will be the only plant ripe enough to 



