142 THE GRASSES OF TENNESSEE. 



CHAPTER XII. 



ALSIKE CLOVER SAPLING CLOVER CRIMSON CLOVER 

 LUC ERNE ESPARSETTE VETCH . 



ALSIKE CLOVER (Trifolium hybridum). 



This species of clover was introduced into England from 

 Sweden, hence it is sometimes called Swedish clover. It 

 gets the name Alsike from the parish of Alsike, in the 

 province of Upland. It is a perennial found wild through- 

 out many parts of Sweden, Norway and Finland. 



Alsike Clover, as compared with common red clover, has 

 a slenderer stalk, narrower leaf, and paler colored flowers 

 and foliage. The flower stalks are longer and the blossoms 

 more fragrant and sweeter to the taste. When first open, 

 the blooms are but faintly tinged with pink, subsequently 

 they deepen into a pale red, and stand up. When the pe- 

 riod of flowering passes the heads droop and kirn brown. 

 The seed pods contain three or four seeds, which are kidney 

 shaped, and from dark green to violet color, and consider- 

 ably smaller than the seeds of red clover. 



This clover does not make much growth the first year, 

 and attains full growth only in its third year. It yields 

 less than the red clover, and has but little or no aftermath. 

 It is hardier and sweeter than red clover, and being a pe- 

 rennial, is more lasting, and it makes a finer hay. 



Wherever it has been tried, experience has taught that 

 it is best to seed it down with red clover, or some grass, 

 preferably orchard grass, for the reasons that it does not 

 occupy the ground the first year, and is liable to fall and 

 lodge badly if sown alone. I have noticed that it is much 

 frequented by bees. 



