338 CLOVERS 



than those of crimson clover and are oblong in 

 shape. In color they are mottled brown, yellow and 

 green. The roots in the Michigan test produced 

 nodules freely and without inoculating the soil by 

 any artificial means. The plants in the same tests 

 were killed to the ground by early October frosts. 



This variety, like that grown so freely in the 

 Southern States, is an annual. In the absence of 

 experience in growing it under varied conditions, it 

 would be premature to dwell upon its value. If it 

 should grow readily on sandy land, as the Michigan 

 test would seem to indicate, it would render substan- 

 tial service in fertilizing such soils. In the grass 

 . garden of the Department of Agriculture at Wash- 

 ington, D. C, its behavior has been such as to en- 

 courage making further tests. 



FLORIDA CLOVER 



Florida clover (Desmodium tortuosum) is some- 

 times grown both for hay and pasture, more espe- 

 cially in the Gulf States. It has been designated 

 botanically Desmodium molie, and is also known 

 by the common names Beggar Weed, Giant Beggar 

 Weed, Beggar Ticks and Tickweed. The name 

 Florida Clover has been given to it because of its 

 prevalence on the light soils of Florida. The name 

 "beggar" has probably been applied to this plant 

 because of its relation to poverty in soils, in which 

 it is more commonly grown, and the name "ticks" 

 from the clinging habit of the seed-pods to surfaces 

 with which they come in contact. 



Beggar Weed is an erect and branching plant, 



