PASTURAGE. 271 



and noxious, and its seeds, though they do cling to one's 

 clothing, cling lovingly, and do not wound one's feelings 

 by stinging, pointed thrusts of a personal nature. Our 

 *' Beggar's Lice " is a much more peaceful and reputable 

 character than its Northern brother. 



It should be sown in drills, the seeds dropped quite close 

 together, the rows just far enough apart (three feet) to ad- 

 mit of the plow and cultivator ; if allowed to go to seed, 

 it will come up the next season strong and thrifty, and, in 

 fact, even if not so allowed, the roots, if left undisturbed, 

 will send up a yearly growth. So it will be seen that In- 

 dian clover, once planted, will go on reproducing itself if 

 given the opportunity, without any further trouble on the 

 part of its owner. It should be cut just as it is blooming, 

 to seed; cured at this time, the hay is sweet, aromatic, 

 bright, juicy, and very nutritious, the stems tender and 

 succulent. In good soils Indian clover will grow to a 

 height of eight or ten feet, throwing out long lateral 

 branches ; but it will do well on very poor soils also, as it, 

 like the cow-pea, draws largely for sustenance on the air, 

 requiring but little food from the soil. Its analysis shows 

 sixteen and a-half per cent, of albuminoids, and a large 

 proportion of saccharine matter. All kinds of stock are 

 extravagantly fond of this precious forage plant, whether 

 fed to them green or cured, in pasture or in stall, and will 

 turn to it in preference to oats, hay, corn, or pea-vines. 



Not long ago it was thought that Indian clover could 

 only be used in a green state ; but this idea arose merely 

 because the process of curing it was not understood, expe- 

 rience having proved that it is really more easily cured 

 and handled than pea-vines, or many kinds of grasses. It 

 should be cut as early in the morning as possible and left 

 spread on the ground for eight or ten hours only, then 

 carried to the barn and stored, but never in large bulk ; 



