282 CLOVERS 



In the Southern States, it is credited with the reno- 

 vation of soils so poor that the return was not worth 

 the labor of tillage. Throughout much of the 

 South, it has rendered much service in thus improv- 

 ing soils. It also grows so thickly on many soils 

 as to lessen and, in many instances, entirely prevent 

 washing, that great bane of Southern soils. It will 

 even grow and produce some pasture under the 

 shade of grass or Southern pines. 



Distribution. — Japan clover is said to be native 

 to China and other countries in Eastern Asia. When 

 introduced into Japan, the soil and climatic condi- 

 tions proved so favorable that before long it spread 

 out over the whole island. Since its introduction 

 into the United States it has spread very rapidly. 



Since it does not grow early in the season, it needs 

 a warm climate. It grows much better in moist 

 weather than in a time of drought, but it will also 

 continue to grow in the absence of rain until the 

 drought becomes excessive. It will then wilt down 

 on poor soils, but grows again as soon as rain falls. 



Since the introduction of Japan clover into the 

 United States in 1849, oi"; ^s some think, somewhat 

 earlier, it has spread over the entire South, from 

 the Ohio River to the Gulf, from the Atlantic to 

 the Mississippi, and also to the States of Arkansas, 

 Louisiana and Texas beyond the Mississippi. It 

 was early introduced into Georgia, and came into 

 much favor there. It reached Tennessee in 1870, 

 and soon spread over many counties. It came later 

 into Louisiana, but soon became very popular there, 

 largely through the efforts of Colonel J. Burgess 



