SWEET CLOVER: GROWING THE CROP. 25 



The use of unhulled seed has usually been attended with failure 

 in the northern portion of the United States, although occasionally 

 good stands have been obtained the following spring from late fall 

 seeding. This failure is in part due to the fact that the seed has 

 been sown in the spring and at a time when only seed germinating 

 well should be used. When unhulled seed is to be sown north of the 

 latitude of Washington, D. C., it should be sown not later than Feb- 

 ruary 15, and preferably earlier. Observations show that fairly 

 good stands may be obtained by seeding during the winter, but care 

 should be taken not to sow seed earlier than necessary on land which 

 is subject to washing. Farmers should have no trouble in purchasing 

 hulled seed, and therefore it is recommended that only hulled seed 

 which germinates well be sown. 



RATE OF SEEDING. 



The rate at which sweet clover should be seeded varies with the 

 germination of the seed, the condition of the seed bed, the climatic 

 conditions of the region, and the method of seeding. Throughout the 

 humid sections of the eastern United States sweet clover ordinarily 

 is seeded at the rate of 15 to 20 pounds of hulled seed to the acre. 

 From 12 to 15 pounds should be ample where the seed bed is in good 

 condition and the seed germinates 75 per cent or more. In Illinois, 

 the western North-Central States, the Mountain States, and the 

 Pacific Coast States good stands are generally obtained by sowing 10 

 to 12 pounds of hulled seed to the acre. In eastern Washington it is 

 claimed that from 5 to 8 pounds to the acre are sufficient for good 

 stands. 



When sweet clover is grown under irrigation, 8 to 10 pounds of 

 hulled seed usualty are sufficient, and from 2 to 4 pounds per acre 

 are enough when seeded in rows from 2 to 4 feet apart. Of unhulled 

 seed 3 to 6 pecks (24 to 48 pounds) or 20 pounds of hulled seed are 

 usually sown in the South for pasturage or hay. In any region at 

 least 10 pounds more of the unhulled than of hulled seed should be 

 sown to an acre. Unless annual yellow sweet-clover seed is 

 thoroughly cleaned it should be sown at the rate of 25 to 30 pounds 

 to the acre. 



METHODS OF SEEDING. 



The methods used for seeding red clover or alfalfa in any par- 

 ticular region will be suitable for seeding sweet clover. Good re- 

 sults have been obtained by broadcasting the seed on winter grain 

 in the spring when the ground is in a honeycombed condition. Per- 

 haps a better method is to wait until the ground can be worked and 

 then to broadcast and cover the seed with a harrow or to sow it with 



