D. M. Ferry A. Co'S Descriptive Catalogue. 
49 
cases, in the Eastern, Mid¬ 
dle and Western States.thc 
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 ( Trifolium pratensey 
— 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¬ 
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 (Trifolium pratense ).—This 
is by far the most important of all varieties for the prac- i 
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 (Trifolium hybridum ).—This 
valuable variety is fast gaining great popularity. It is 
the most hardy of all the clovers ; perennial. 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 (Trtfolium 
incarnatuni ).—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. 
White Dutch. 
White Dutch ( Trifolium re pens ). — 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 Alfalfa {Medicago sattva ). — 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 alba) Sweet Clover .—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 ojfici- 
tialis) y and may be distinguished from it by its white 
flowers and less coarse and more leafy stems. 
GRASS SEEKS. 
Timothy (Phleum pratense ).—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. 
Alsike, or Swedish, 
