256 SUCCESSFUL FARMING 



As a hay crop it will not yield as much as red clover, although it makes 

 hay of finer textures and retains the leaves better. It is hardier than red 

 clover, but lodges worse. The foliage is slightly bitter and not relished as 

 well by cattle. For this reason it is better to mix it with red clover or with 

 grasses. It matures about two weeks earlier than red clover; consequently, 

 does not fit into mixtures as well as the red. It may be grown with early- 

 maturing grasses such as orchard grass and redtop. Alsike clover and red- 

 top'make an admirable mixture for wet, sour soil, and may be used both 

 for hay and pasture purposes. 



It seeds abundantly and the seed, though much smaller than that of 

 red clover, commands about the same price. Six to eight pounds per acre 

 when seeded alone are sufficient. Smaller amounts may be used in mix- 

 tures. 



White Clover. — White clover is a low-growing perennial, having 

 abundant solid, creeping stems. It is well adapted to moist soils in nearly 

 all of the temperate zone. It is especially well adapted for pasture purposes 

 and is frequently used with blue grass both in pastures and lawns. It 

 seeds abundantly, often producing from two to six bushels per acre, the 

 price ranging a little above that for common red clover. It has long been 

 valued as a honey plant. The blossoms when excluded from insects 

 usually set no seeds. 



Ladino Clover. — This clover is similar to white clover, but much larger. 

 It has but recently been introduced into North America. It furnishes good 

 yields of excellent pasturage and under favorable weather conditions attains 

 sufficient size to be harvested for hay. 



Crimson Clover. — This is a winter annual adapted only to regions of 

 mild winters. It is extensively used as a green manuring and cover crop. 

 It may be seeded from May to August, either alone or in other crops such 

 as standing corn. It makes hay of a good quality if cut just as it comes in 

 flower. The plant is somewhat hairy and the seed heads are abundantly 

 supplied with long hairs. If the heads become rather mature, the hairs 

 harden and cause serious trouble when fed to livestock. It is never 

 advisable to feed straw from crimson clover to horses. Either the mature 

 hay or straw causes hair balls in the stomach and intestines that frequently 

 result in the death of the animals. Both the hay and seed crops are 

 handled in about the same way as red clover. 



Sweet Clover. — This plant has come into prominence in recent years, 

 and has been extensively discussed in the agricultural press. Recent 

 careful inquiries and investigations indicate that it is destined to become 

 an important legume, both as a forage crop and for soil improvement. 



There are several species of sweet clover, but the white sweet clover 

 (Melilotus alba) is the most valuable under most conditions. It is adapted 

 to a wide range of both soil and climatic conditions. It is exceedingly 

 hardy and makes fair growth under adverse conditions. It is a biennial. 

 It is often spoken of as a roadside weed, and occurs along roadways in many 



