D. M. Ferry &, Cos Descriptive Catalogue. 



49 



cases, in the Eastern, Mid- 

 dle and Western States,the 

 best results will come from 

 sowing in the spring, and 

 it is often sown on the late 

 snows of April. In any 

 case, it should be evenly dis- 

 tributed on a mellow, well 

 prepared soil. Plaster will 

 increase the growth remark- 

 ably, and should be sown 

 broad-cast the season fol- 

 lowing the seeding. 



Mammoth, or Large 



Red ^rri/oliiiJii pratetise^ 



— It grows five or six feet 



high, but its stalks are so 



coarse and large that stock 



will eat only the leaves, but 



by its judicious use, lands 



>' which have been exhaust- 



Alsike, or Swedish, ed can be reclaimed, as it 



•will grow where the common clover will fail. Sow at the 



rate of about eight pounds per acre. Sixty pounds per 



bushel. 



Medium Red, or June ( Trifoliuiu fratense). — This 

 is by far the most important of all varieties for the prac- 

 tical purposes of agriculture. Sow in spring or fall; and 

 when no other grasses are used, at the rate of eight to 

 ten pounds per acre, more being required on old, stiff 

 soils, than on new and lighter ones. Sixty pounds per 

 bushel. 



Alsike, or Swedish {Trifoliuin hybridum'). — This 

 valuable variety is fast gaining great popularity. It is 

 the most hardy of all the clovers ; f)erennial. On rich, 

 moist soils it yields an enormous quantity of hay or pas- 

 ture, and may be cut several times in a season, but its 

 greatest value is for sowing with other clovers and 

 grasses, as it forms a thick bottom, and greatly increases 

 the yield of hay, and cattle prefer it to any other forage. 

 The heads are globular, very sweet and fragrant, and 

 much liked by bees, who obtain a large amount of honey 

 from them. Sow in spring or fall, at the rate of six 

 pounds per acre, where used alone. Sixty pounds per 

 bushel. 





Crimson Trefoil. 

 Crimson Trefoil, or Scarlet Italian {Tri/olium 

 i>:carfiai»m).— This is an annual variety, in common 

 use in Italy and the south of France for feeding green. 

 The yield in fodder is immense, and after cutting, it at 

 once commences growing again and continues until 

 severe cold, freezing weather. It grows about one foot 



high; the roots are nearly black; leaves long ; blossoms 

 long, pointed, and of a very deep red, or carmine color. 

 Makes good hay. Sow in April or May, eight pounds 

 of seed per acre. 



Sl^' 



White Dutch. 



White Dutch {Trifolium re/>ens). — A small, creep- 

 ing, spreading, perennial variety, valuable for pasture 

 and for lawns. It accommodates itself to a variety of 

 soils, but prefers moist ground. In conjunction with 

 blue grass, it forms the most nutritious food for sheep 

 or cows. Sow in spring, at the rate of six pounds per 

 acre; or when used with other grasses, half that amount 

 will be sufficient. 



Lucerne, or KUaUsi {Medicago saiiva). — Where this 

 succeeeds it is the most valuable of all the clovers. It is 

 more difficult to establish the first year, requiring a fine, 

 mellow soil, but will then produce a profitable crop from 

 five to twelve years. It yields a prodigious amount of 

 green fodder for cattle, and should be cut when first 

 commencing to bloom, when it pushes out fresh shoots, 

 and the after growth is something wonderful. In the 

 driest and most sultry weather, when every blade of 

 grass withers. Lucerne is as fresh and green as in spring, 

 because the roots go down to the moisture in the ground. 

 Although such a prodigious yielder, it does not exhaust 

 the soil, but rather improves it. It should not be sown 

 on compact, clay soils, even with a light subsoil. 



One of our customers writes us from Utah as follows : 

 " I have had years of experience, both here and in Cali- 

 fornia. We always sow broadcast, twenty-five pounds 

 per acre ; the thicker it is sown the finer your hay will 

 be. If it is planted thin, it stools out and the stalks are 

 thick and not relished by stock. It requires no hoe- 

 ing whatever when sown as above. We cut four crops 

 a year, and its yield is enormous. The fall is the best 

 time for sowing here, as it will stand the winter and do 

 much better the following season than when sown in the 

 spring. The above is my experience for fifteen years." 



In some sections it is sown in the spring, in drills, 

 twelve inches apart, and hoed until it covers the sur- 

 face. This process requires about eight pounds of seed 

 per acre. 



Bokhara (Melilotus alha\ Siveet C/tJzrr.— This is 

 exceedingly valuable as pasturage for bees. It is occa- 

 sionally found growing wild by the roadside, in company 

 with the more common sweet clover {Melilotus offici- 

 nalis)^ and may be distinguished from it by its white 

 flowers and less coarse and more leafy stems. 



GRASS SEEDS. 



Timothy KPhieum piatcnse). — This is the most val- 

 uable of all the grasses for hay, especially at the north. 

 Thrives best on moist, loamy soils of medium tenacity. 



