THE CLOVERS— ALSIKE. 107 



under irrigation, and it will grow on clover-sick land — 

 if same has been well manured and is in good condi- 

 tion. On the other hand, it is not well qualified to 

 resist long drought, as its roots do not go deep. It is 

 more leafy than Eed Clover ; and also, as it contains a 

 little more water in its composition, it is more difficult 

 to make into hay. It is at the flowering season that it 

 presents the largest proportion of nutritive elements, 

 and that period is therefore the most suitable for crop- 

 ping it. 



On account of the slightly bitter taste of Alsike, it is 

 not eaten so readily as White Clover is ; but its feed- 

 ing value, according to chemical analysis, is fully equal 

 to that of White. Its yield is larger and of better qua- 

 lity when sown in mixture with other plants than when 

 used alone, as the other grasses support the clover 

 plant and prevent it shedding its leaves. The best 

 grasses for mixing with Alsike, named in the order of 

 their merit, are Timothy, Cocksfoot, English Eyegrass, 

 Tall Oatgrass, and Italian Eyegrass. Those who have 

 been in the habit of sowing Eed Clover by itself should 

 try instead a mixture of 50 per cent. Eed, 25 per cent. 

 Alsike, and 25 per cent. Timothy. 



Soils. — Alsike can be cultivated on the strongest clay 

 soils — even where the subsoil is impermeable — as well 

 as on peaty soil, and on ground so moist that other 

 clovers will not grow there — ^provided always that such 

 soils do not retain too much water. 



The Seed. — In the Alsike seed of commerce many 

 samples contain a number of weed seeds of different 

 varieties, and sometimes an admixture of Trefoil seed. 

 Of the weed seeds, the worst are Clover Dodder and 

 Eibgrass. 



