PLANTS OF THE CLOVER FAMILY. 83 



is much superior to the common red in providing 

 honey for bees, and it is also better adapted for 

 being grown along with timothy, first, because it 

 ripens at the same time; and, second, because 

 ordinarily it crowds the timothy less than the com- 

 mon red. It can withstand lower temperatures than 

 the common red, hence the limit of its growth is 

 further north than that of the other. And when 

 supplied with moisture it would seem to be adapted 

 to temperatures equally warm. It can usually be 

 grown in good form between the 40th and 50th par- 

 allels of north latitude, from the Atlantic to the 

 Pacific, when sown on soils with the requisite adap- 

 tation ; and south of the 40th parallel it can also be 

 profitably grown under certain conditions. 



Place in the Rotation. — Alsike clover, like the 

 medium red, should be sown on soils that have been 

 previously cropped with grain, and to such an extent 

 that they require an increase of nitrogen and of veg- 

 etable matter. The clover roots will supply both 

 of these. If the crop immediately preceding the 

 clover has been a cultivated crop, and if it has been 

 suitably cared for, the soil will be in a condition to 

 grow the clover without any injurious admixture of 

 weeds. Cereal crops, or corn should follow the 

 clover. Alsike clover is not a good rotation crop, 

 because of its perennial habit of growth. When- 

 ever a stand has been secured it is usual to pasture 

 it, or to cut it for hay for several years. 



Soils. — Alsike clover has special adaptation for 

 clay soils, for clay loam soils, and for the soils of the 

 bottom lands of the Rocky mountain region that lies 

 within the clover belt. It thrives well on the stiffest 

 clays. It thrives better on loam soils well supplied 



