334 CHAPTER XX 



White or Dutch Clover (T. repens) is a low-growing, 

 shallow-rooted perennial species havnig adventitious roots, 

 bearing small pure white flowers on long fibwer stalks from 

 the lower part of the stem. It is especially adapted to rather 

 moist, warm climates, and does fairly well on comparatively 

 water-logged soils. It is an excellent legume for pasturage and 

 is nearly always included in pasture mixtures in Europe and 

 America. When grown alone poor results have been obtained 

 in South Africa, but Melle has found it to grow excellently in 

 conjunction with kikuyu grass on well limed soils. At the 

 Experimental Farm, Potchefstroom, it is affording good pas- 

 turage together with paspalum. 



Alsike Clover (T. hybridum). — It is a fairly erect growing 

 glabrous perennial, having white to pinkish flowers — white 

 when young, pinkish later on, borne on the terminals of 

 branches. The seeds are small yellowish-green, black and 

 greenish-black in colour. It is shallow rooted, poor in drought- 

 resistant qualities, and will do fairly w^ell on soils too poorly 

 drained for Ked Clover. It thrives in cool climates having 

 abundant moisture. Trials at the experimental stations in 

 South Africa have not shown it to be suitable to our conditions. 



Berseem (T. alexandrinum) is a white flowered annual pre- 

 ferring higher temperatures than the other clovers commonly 

 grown. It is extensively grown as a winter irrigation crop in 

 Egypt, and as such might find a place in South African agricul- 

 ture. 



Subterranean Clover (T. suhierranece) is a perennial grown 

 in Australia, having rhizomes, and which may prove of use in 

 South Africa, since it is supposed to be more drought-resistant 

 than the other species of Trifolium. 



SWEET CLOVERS (Melilotus spp.). 



W^hite, Sweet or Bokhara Clover (M. alba or leucantha) 

 is an erect biennial, having white flowers. It grows 3 to 4 feet 

 the first year, and may reach a height of 6 to 9 feet the follow- 

 ing year when it flowers, the racemes being 3 to 12 inches in 

 length. The stems are coarse and very woody close to the 

 ground. 



Yellow Sweet Clover (M. officinalis) is a yellow flowered 

 biennial species of earlier and more slender growth than M. 

 alba; it is also less leafy and smaller in size. 



