CHAPTER V 



ALSIKE CLOVER 



Alsike Clover (Trifolium hybridmn) takes its 

 name from a parish in the south of Sweden. From 

 there it is probable that it was introduced into Eng- 

 land. Linnaeus gave it the name of hybridum, im- 

 agining it to be a cross between the red and the 

 white varieties. Botanists do not generally hiold 

 this view. It is known by various names, as 

 Swedish, White Swedish, Alsace, Hybrid, Peren- 

 nial Hybrid, Elegant and Pod Clover, but 

 more commonly in America it is spoken of as 

 alsike. 



The plants of this variety are more slender than 

 those of the medium red variety, although they grow 

 in some instances to a greater height. The slender 

 stems are much branched. The leaves are numerous 

 and oblong in shape, the flowers are of a pinkish 

 tint, the heads are globular and are about three- 

 fourths of an inch in diameter, and the pods, like 

 those in white clover, contain more than one seed. 

 The roots are in no small degree fibrous, and yet 

 the slender tap root goes down to a considerable dis- 

 tance. 



Alsike clover is a perennial. In favorable situa- 

 tions it will live for many years. Ordinarily, it 

 grows to the height of i8 to 24 inches, but in slough 



