PLANTS OF THE CLOVER FAMILY. 87 



or mammoth clover pastures. This point, however, 

 has not been unequivocally established. 



When Alsike clover is wanted for seed, it may 

 be advantageous to pasture it for a time after it has 

 begun to grow in the spring. The pasturing should 

 be close as long as it is continued, to secure uniform- 

 ity in the subsequent development of the crop. 

 Such pasturing will prevent overluxuriance in the 

 growth of the clover on soils and in seasons when 

 such overgrowth is to be feared. The energies 

 of the plant are thus diverted from the over- 

 production of stems and leaves to the production 

 of seed. 



The duration of the pasturing given to these 

 seed crops cannot be stated, as it will vary with the 

 character of the season. On some soils, as, for 

 instance, stiff clays, pasturing is not required, and in 

 any event the pasturing should not be long contin- 

 ued, lest it should prevent the plants from making 

 growth enough to produce seed plentifully. 



Observations. — i. Alsike clover is well suited 

 for being sown with mixtures of grass seeds 

 used in making permanent pastures, because of 

 its hardihood and because of its perennial habit 

 of growth. 



2. A stand of Alsike clover may not infre- 

 quently be obtained in slough lands of the prairie by 

 scattering the seed on the native sod in the early 

 spring. If the native grass can be cut early or pas- 

 tured off after the young clover plants have made a 

 good start, the clover will be much benefited. But 

 in dry summers a stand of the clover is not likely to 

 be secured. 



3. Alsike clover and timothy are well adapted 



