THECLOVERS 257 



parts of nearly every state in the Union and the provinces of Canada. It 

 seeds abundantly, the seed being similar to that of alfalfa. -The plant 

 also closely resembles alfalfa in its early stages of growth, although the 

 blossoms and seed heads are quite different. 



It is deep rooted and the tops often attain a height of four to five feet. 

 The composition of sweet clover is nearly the same as that of alfalfa. It 

 is high in digestible protein and very nutritious as feed. Because of a 

 peculiar odor and taste, animals seldom eat it at first. They soon acquire 

 a taste for it and eat it with avidity and thrive on it. 



Sweet clover is especially valuable for soil improvement. Its greatest 

 benefit will result by plowing it under the second season before it blooms. 

 The seed should be sown at the rate of fifteen to twenty pounds of hulled 

 seed, or at the rate of twenty-five to thirty pounds when hulls are present. 



Pasturing Sweet Clover in Kansas. 1 



It may be seeded either in August or early in the spring. The methods of 

 seeding are similar to those for red clover. 



Lespedeza or Japan Clover. — This is a small-growing summer annual, 

 attaining a height of six to eighteen inches, depending on soil conditions. 

 It is adapted especially to the cotton belt. It is to the South what white 

 clover is in the North. It is especially adapted for grazing purposes, and a 

 mixture of Bermuda grass and Lespedeza makes a good pasture for many 

 parts of the South. It begins growth in the middle spring and reaches 

 maturity in September or October. It may be distinguished from the 

 yellow-flowered hop clovers which it closely resembles by its purple blos- 

 soms, which do not appear until August or later, while the hop clovers bloom 

 early. It seeds freely and perpetuates itself from year to year by self- 

 seeding. 



Bur Clover. — This is a rather small-growing clover indigenous to 

 Texas and California, and is closely related to alfalfa. It is of very little 

 value for hay, and will give only one cutting. It serves best for winter 

 and early spring grazing. It is especially valuable because it affords 



1 Courtesy of Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station. 

 17 



