PLANTS OF THE CLOVER FAMILY. 93 



instances when the harrow can be used upon it with 

 advantage. 



Pasturing. — Although crimson clover has been 

 grown more as a fertilizer than to provide pasture, 

 its mission in furnishing pasture and also soiling 

 food is an important one. When the strength of 

 the clover growing alone or in combination with 

 other crops will justify so doing, it should of course 

 be pastured, but not so closely as to endanger its 

 passing the winter safely. Any kind of domestic 

 animals upon the farm may be grazed upon it. It 

 furnishes pasture early in the spring and in bounti- 

 ful supply. Sheep have been pastured on it early in 

 the season, and after they were removed a good crop 

 of seed has been reaped. Such pasturing is favor- 

 able to seed production when the crop is likely to be 

 too rank. It may also be pastured with much advan- 

 tage by sheep or swine when it is grown in orchards. 

 The fertility produced by the crop will all be returned 

 to the land when it is thus pastured. 



Observations. — i. After a crop of seed has been 

 harvested, another crop of clover can be obtained in 

 some instances by simply harrowing or otherwise 

 stirring the soil. 



2. When sheep or swine are used in pasturing 

 an orchard, the trees may be protected from injury 

 by inclosing the trunks in wire netting. To hinder 

 the sheep, however, from eating the fruit on the 

 lower limbs that droop is practically impossible. 



ALFALFA OR LUCERN. 



Alfalfa or Lucern (Medicago sativa) is a won- 

 derful food plant. No other plant grown in the 



