196 CLOVERS 



lands it sometimes grows to the height of 5 feet. 

 The plants do not reach their full size until the sec- 

 ond year, and in some instances until a period even 

 later. They grow less rapidly than those of medium 

 red clover, are several weeks later coming into 

 flower, and grow much less vigorously in the au- 

 tumn. Ordinarily, they furnish but one cutting of 

 hay each year. Because of the more fibrous chai- 

 acter of the root growth, the plants do not heave so 

 readily as those of red clover. In moist situations 

 they are much given to lodge; hence, the impor- 

 tance of growing this crop, when grown for hay, 

 along with some kind of grass that will help to keep 

 the stems erect. 



Alsike clover furnishes a large amount of pas- 

 ture. It is relished, at least, fairly well. The leaves 

 are slightly bitter, but not enough to seriously interfere 

 with their palatability. The quality of the hay is 

 excellent. This arises from its fineness, from the 

 number of the small branches and leaves on the 

 stems, and from its fragrance when well cured. 

 While it makes a very suitable hay for horses and 

 cattle, it has peculiar adaptation for sheep, owing 

 to its fineness, 



As a fertilizer it is probably not equal to medium 

 red clover, since the root growth is not so bulky. 

 Nor does it produce a second cutting anything like 

 so vigorous as the former. Nevertheless, the roots 

 possess even stiff soils to such an extent that they 

 not only furnish them with much plant food, but 

 they also tend to disintegrate them and to render 

 them more easy to pulverize. 



