uAlyce Clouer 
HISTORY 
Alyce clover was first seen growing in a grove near 
Lakeland, Florida, about 1918. It was about 1925 that 
its real identity was made by the U. S. Department 
of Agriculture. Alyce clover so named from its bo¬ 
tanical name Alysicarpus vaginalis is a native of Souths 
ern Asia, West Indies and India. 
VALUES 
It was first noted that in the portion of the grove 
where Alyce clover was growing for several years the 
trees were much larger and more productive of a bet¬ 
ter quality fruit than in that portion of the grove 
which did not have Alyce clover as a covercrop. It 
was so noticeable that much interest was given the 
crop by agricultural authorities. The value of the 
crop as a hay is given in the following analysis made 
by the U. S. Department of Agriculture. 
PERCENTAGE COMPOSITION OF ALYCE CLOVER HAY 
Crude 
Carbohydrates 
Crop 
Water 
Ash 
Protein 
Fiber 
Nitrogen 
Free Ext. 
Fat 
Alsyce 
Clover 
7.28 
3.58 
12.66 
44.13 
30.63 
1.72 
The above analysis compares very much, the same 
as Alfalfa and is being used by dairymen when ob¬ 
tainable as the best hay obtainable. All kinds of stock 
are very fond of the hay which is easy to cure. 
FERTILIZER VALUES 
2.6% AMMONIA IN HAY 
From the above analysis it is determined that as 
a fertilizer the hay or tops has nitrogen content of 
2.6%, as ammonia. The root system of Alyce clover 
is profusely covered with nodules which are rich in ni- 
ti-ogen content. As a fertilizer the root system is even 
more valuable than the tops so it is readily seen that 
Alyce clover is a rich fertilizer producing legume. It 
is possible to save one-third to one-half the costs of 
fertilizing crops after Alyce clover has been grown and 
returned to the soil for three or four years, for with 
this rich organic nitrogen producer it is possible to use 
cheaper forms of inorganic ammonia where needed. 
