GARDEN MANUAL FOR THE SOUTHERN STATES. 



97 



grazed or mowed frequently, until April, it still will mature seed. It has become natural- 

 ized in limited portions of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and perhaps other 

 States. It is a very pretty grass in all its stages; and especially so when the culms, two or 

 three feet high, are gracefully bending the weight of the diffuse panicle with its many 

 pedicelled flattened spikelets, each an inch or more long and with twelve to sixteen 

 flowers. 



We would not, however, advise sowing this grass on poor land with the expectation of 

 getting a remunerative return. It tillers abundantly under favorable conditions. 



JAPAN CLOVER. 



Lespedeza Striata. 



There is now so much inquiry about this plant, so much confusion, lack of knowledge 

 and confounding with or mistaking for it another worthless species, and also the same 

 errors in regard to a small genuine clover, that it is deemed proper to give some correct in- 

 formation on the subject. 



HISTORY. 



To botanists this plant has been known for many- 

 generations in its native habit in China and other 

 eastern parts of Asia. Finding its way to Japan it 

 encountered eongenial climate and soil, and rap- 

 idly spread over the entire country occupying all 

 waste places, which it has continued to possess 

 and improve for much more than a century. Here 

 as on the continent . it was of dwarfish habit and 

 received a name indicative of the fact. 



Finally, a few seeds, arriving in the United 

 States, germinated, contested a few feet of soil 

 with other native and exotic plants that had long 

 pre-occupied the land. 



It gained strength and increased in yield of seed 

 till becoming somewhat abundant, it commenced 

 its westward invasion, simultaneously extending 

 its conquests northward and southward, firmly 

 holding all conquered territory. Since 1870 its 

 strides westward have been immerse. Itnow ex- 

 tends from the Atlantic seaboard across the Mis- 

 sissippi, and its outposts are pushed far towards 

 the western border of Texas. 



On rich soil it doffs the dwarf and dons the 

 tree-style, justifying the American name of 

 "bush clover," sending its long tap roots deep 

 down in. the subsoil and its stem two to three 

 feet up into the light and air, with its many 

 branches thickly set with leaves, inviting tooth 

 and blade. 



It subdues broom gras3 and holds equal contest 

 with Bermuda grass ; in some localities one yield- 

 ing, in other spots both maintain equal possession; 

 or one year one may seem to rule, and the next 

 year the other. 



VALUE. 



On sands, gravels, or denuded clay hill tops no 

 other plantknown to me is so valuable for grazing. 

 Taking a succession of ten years, the same asser- 

 tion would not be far out of the way for rich lands 

 while few forage plants on these would yield so 

 much or so valuable hay. 



The analysis of red clover gives 16 per cent, 

 albuminoids and 41 carbohydrates The average 

 of two analvsis of Japan clover gives-15.85 albu- 

 minoids and 56 carbohydrates, placing it above red 

 clover in nutritive value . 



PRODUCT OF HAY. 



On medium to good land it ranges from one to 

 three tons per acre ; and this may be obtained after 

 having during the summer harvested from the 

 same land a good crop of grain and straw. 



QUALITY. 



Some of our farmers who have been mowing 

 Lespedeza striata for five or ten years, regard it 



as the soundest, best, most wholesome and pala- 

 table hay they ever used. These mowings have 

 ranged from two to three hundred tons on a single 

 farm in one season. Yet no complaint as to qual- 

 ity ,• or relish of animals for it, or as to its nutritive 

 value and good effect on the stock has ever reached 

 us. Those who have used it longest and in largest 

 quantities and kept animals— cattle, sheep, horses 

 and mules—in best condition, commend it most. 



Japan Clover. 



SEEDING. 



A measured half bushel of seed per acre may be 

 sown broadcast the first week in March south of 

 parallel 32 o of latitude, a few days later as we 

 proceed northward for each degree or two. Sown 

 in the Fall ©r Winter it springs up, but freezes 

 often throw it out and destroy it. As already 

 stated, it germinates and grows well on land in 

 any condition, if the surface is not so loose as to 

 let the seed sink too deep. When land has been 

 prepared for or sown in grain, the winter rains 

 put it in about the best condition for growing this 

 plant for heavy crops of hay. 



For price, see "ice list. 



BURR CLOVER. 



Medicago Macculata. 



This variety of Clover was brought from Chili to California and thence to the States 

 under the name of California Clover. It is often taken for Lucerne, which name is 

 wronglv applied. The Burr Clover has only two or three yellow blossoms in each cluster, 



