ALSIKE CLOVER 201 



does not grow so vigorously as the medium red. 

 The less of density that these possess under ordi- 

 nary conditions, the less suitable are they to the 

 needs of this plant, but when ample moisture is 

 present, good crops may be grown on much of the 

 soil in prairie areas. 



Soils lowest in adaptation to the growth of alsike 

 include infertile sands and gravels, and the vegetable 

 soils of the prairie so light that when cultivated they 

 lift more or less with the wind. On such soils the 

 growth of alsike is short and feeble, and any lack of 

 moisture renders it increasingly so. 



This plant not only requires much moisture to in- 

 sure the most vigorous growth, but it is also able 

 to thrive under conditions of soil saturation such as 

 some of the useful forage plants could not endure. 

 When the weather is cool, it may be covered with 

 shallow water for several days in succession without 

 apparent injury. The possession of this character- 

 istic makes it possible to grow alsike clover in 

 sloughs not yet drained, but which are dry certain 

 portions of the year. 



Place in the Rotation. — Much of what has 

 been said about the place for medium red clover in 

 the rotation may also apply to alsike clover. (See 

 page 70.) On upland soils its place in the rotation 

 will be very similar to that of the other variety, 

 but with the difference that the rotations will be 

 longer, because of the perennial habit of growth in 

 the alsike. It will be best sown, therefore, on clean 

 land which has produced a crop that has been culti- 

 vated the previous year. Consequently, it may fol- 



