Legumes 301 



Phosphorous, potash, wood ashes and manure are benefi- 

 cial to legumes. Nitrogenous fertilizers are rarely ap- 

 plied to soils cropped in legumes, though in planting them it 

 is sometimes desirable to give a light dressing of some 

 fertilizer containing nitrogen to give the young plants a 

 good start. 



431. Clovers. Clover is a general term applied to a 

 number of legumes. Red clover, and its more vigorous 

 variety, mammoth clover, are largely grown in the United 

 states north of a line from Oregon to Alabama. White 

 clover is a hardy, spreading perennial used largely in 

 pastures in regions north of the Cotton Belt, yet grows well 

 on lowlands in humid regions in the South. Owing to its 

 winter-growing habit, it is particularly desirable in com- 

 bination with Bermuda grass in the South, to furnish an 

 almost continuous pasture. Crimson clover is a winter 

 annual not much used for hay, but highly esteemed in 

 the South Atlantic States as a winter cover crop for or- 

 chards and a soil renovating crop in rotations. The 

 seed are sown in the fall and the crop plowed under in 

 the spring in time to plant other crops. 



432. Alfalfa or Lucerne is not truly a clover, but it 

 may be said to be the clover of the West, and in the mild 

 climates of all countries where soils are suitable. It is 

 well suited to both moist and dry climates, and responds 

 freely to irrigation. It has deep growing roots and with- 

 stands dry weather as well, or better than any other forage 

 plant. (Fig. 191). Alfalfa needs a porous subsoil, not 

 so much because of inability of the roots to penetrate 

 stiff soils, but because an excess of water in the surface 

 soil is highly injurious. 



433. Alfalfa is a perennial, forming a " crown," with 

 many stems as it grows older and is mowed off. The 



