304 FIELD CROP PRODUCTION 



when ripe shatters badly, and during harvesting enough is left 

 on the ground to reseed the field. The roots are fine and com- 

 paratively shallow and produce nodules abundantly. 



309. Uses and cultural methods. — Japan clover will grow 

 in almost all types of soil and is especially well adapted to poor 

 soils, furnishing pasture on waste and barren places where other 

 pasture plants will not grow well. It is able to withstand severe 

 drought and furnishes forage during the entire season from spring 

 until the frost kills it in the fall. As a pasture plant it is highly 

 prized on account of its high feeding value, and it is well adapted 

 to growing for this purpose with Bermuda grass and redtop. In 

 pastures it reseeds itself, and although not a perennial, furnishes 

 pasture year after year. Until recently it was grown only for 

 pasture, but now on good soils, where it makes a good growth, it 

 is frequently cut for hay. Usually it will furnish two cuttings 

 during the season, although the second crop may best be cut for 

 seed. On good land it yields from one to two tons of hay per 

 acre. It seeds abundantly, and yields from 5 to 10 bushels per 

 acre, the market price of which is from $3 to S4 per bushel. 

 Almost all of the seed on the market is produced in Louisiana and 

 Mississippi. When a new field is to be seeded down with bur 

 clover, it may best be done in the spring by scattering from 15 to 

 20 pounds of seed per acre and covering it with the harrow. 



