264 FIELD CROP PRODUCTION 



MAMMOTH CLOVER 



264. Mammoth clover, rn/oZtwrn pretense var.perenree. — 

 This clover is considered by almost all agronomists 

 to be a variety of red clover. Some, however, give it the 

 rank of a distinct species. Evidence of its being a variety 

 of the red clover is to be found in the fact that it crosses 

 with it quite readily, producing various intermediate 

 forms. It is so like red clover in its appearance and man- 

 ner of growth that it is sometimes difficult to distinguish 

 one from the other, especially when individual plants are 

 considered. In almost all cases it may be distinguished 

 from red clover by its larger, ranker growth, and its more 

 perennial character. Another way in which it differs 

 from red clover is that it is from 3 to 4 weeks later in 

 maturing and produces but one crop during the season. 

 In other respects it is quite similar to red clover ; even 

 the seeds have no visible difference, and they cannot be 

 told apart. Mammoth clover is sometimes called big 

 clover, perennial red clover, and sapling clover. 



265. Uses of mammoth clover. — Mammoth clover 

 may be used for feeding live stock in the form of hay, 

 pasture, or as a soiling crop. It is not generally highly 

 regarded for hay because of its rank growth of large, 

 coarse stems, which do not make so fine a quality of hay 

 as red clover. However, if grown on rather poor soils, 

 the quality of the hay may be as good as that of red clover, 

 and being a more vigorous plant, the yield from it is 

 greater. The cutting, however, should not be delayed 

 after the plant is in full bloom if a good quality of hay is 

 to be expected. Usually it produces little or no after 

 growth, and is of little value for fall pasture. Mammoth 

 clover is probably more often grown for green manure 



