3° 



PASTURES AND PASTURE PLANTS 



CHAP. 



in the latter case care must be taken to prevent the exceedingly nutritive 

 leaves falling off. The average yield per acre has been estimated at from 

 4,000 to 4,840 lbs. by Pinkert, and at from 3,500 to 4,400 lbs. by Werner, 

 while Schrober records an average of 3,080 lbs. from the first cutting. Seed 

 is abundantly produced at the first crop, and is easily harvested on moderately 

 dry ground when the flower-heads have become brown. White clover. 

 Trefoil and such weed seeds as Plantain {Plantago lanceolata), Sheep's sorrel 

 {Rumex acetoselld) and Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris) are common impurities ; 

 and Dodder occurs even more frequently than in Red clover, it being quite 

 impossible to remove those seeds which are as large as the Alsike itself 



^ap^3^ 



^li •■^^ 



Alsike Clover. 

 {Tiifolhim hybridum.) 



Old seed is sometimes dyed a fresh green ; but, as Stebler observes, the fraud 

 is easily detected by rubbing the seeds with a white cloth, which readily 

 removes the artificial colouring matter. Good commercial qualities should 

 have about 90 per cent, of germination and 97 per cent, of purity, some 103 

 lbs. being usually sown per acre. Excepting very occasionally for pasturage, 

 Alsike is not sown pure, as its peculiarly bent stem-growth renders it very 

 liable to be laid unless supported by grasses ; but it is a most important con- 

 stituent of mixtures for permanent or temporary pastures or meadows. 

 Timothy, Cocksfoot and Perennial rye-grass are very suitable to sow in 

 conjunction with it on heavy soils. Stebler recommends 50 per cent, of 

 Red clover with 25 per cent, each of Timothy and Alsike for alternate 

 husbandry. Thorough preparatory manuring is essential, as the superficial 

 roots soon exhaust the surface layers of soil. 



