
Alsike Clover. A perennial and a native of Scandinavia, alsike 
clover (Trifolium hybridum) has a place in irrigated pastures 
chiefly in the northern end of the state (Lassen, Modoc, Siski- 
you, and eastern Shasta counties). On some sites farther south 
(notably the northern Sacramento Valley), it is incorporated 
in the mixture for heavy soils and sites where seepage or irri- 
gation water concentrate to such an extent as to be intolerable 
for Ladino clover. It is primarily adapted to wet, cold, and 
sour soils of heavy texture. Per Ib. 65e. 
Bur Clover. An annual and native of the Mediterranean re- 
gion. Bur clover (Medicago hispida) has long been a common 
and valued inhabitant of all but the colder portions of Cali- 
fornia. It does not need to be seeded except in those fields 
where the natural stands have been eliminated or greatly re- 
duced by close pasturing or previous farming practices. Be- 
ing a winter annual, it is dependent entirely upon seed for 
reproduction. North of San Francisco it is not popular in iryri- 
gated pastures because it is there semi-dormant in the winter 
and starts in the spring very little earlier than Ladino clover. 
In the southern part of the state, however, it grows well all 
winter and thus fills the need for a legume to extend the pas- 
ture season. 
Subterranean Clover. An annual, subterranean clover (Tri- 
folium subterraneum) is a native of Europe, Asia, and Africa. 
The climatic tolerances of this legume are similar to those of 
bur clover. It is a prostrate, soft woolly plant, all parts of 
which are covered with fairly long, soft hair. The three leaf- 
lets forming each leaf are carried on a long stalk and each 
leaflet is heart-shaped and faintly toothed at the summit. 
After flowering, the stalks which carry the flower heads turn 
downward and grow until the seed head is pushed below the 
surface of the soil. Although an annual, this habit of burying 
its own seed renders this plant equivalent to a perennial. Its 
season of growth is similar to that of bur clover and its place 
in the pasture would therefore be similar. Perhaps its chief 
advantage is that it will do well in really acid soils if there is 
sufficient available phosphorus. The general use of this clover 
is not now recommended. It is mentioned here chiefly because 
it has come into prominence recently and has already been 
found adapted to a considerable part of the state. A few test 
plantings of it in districts where bur clover is recommended, 
or in some acid or granite soils where bur clover does not thrive, 
might weil be made in order to develop facts as to its real place 
in irrigated pasture pract.ce. Per Ib. $1.20. 
Strawberry Clover. A perennial and a native of eastern Medi- 
terranean countries and southern Asia Minor, strawberry 
clover (Trifolium fragiferium) is a low-growing plant that 
spreads by creeping stems that root at the nodes. The flower 
heads are round and pinkish to white in color, resembling an 
immature strawberry. This clover seems to have found a piace 
in some northern areas of the state (particularly in the Tule 
Lake basin and on the coastal plains of Humboldt County). 
Its chief use elsewhere is on soils that are too saline to produce 
Ladino. While with ample irrigation, it has survived on such 
sites in the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys, it has not 
yet become conspicuous in any of the warmer sections of the 
state as a producer of forage. There it is at best'a low under- 
cover plant that produces some feed and probably contributes 
some nitrogen to improve soil conditions. Further experience 
is necessary to define its range and usefulness in irrigated 
pastures in this state. Per Ib. $2.45. 
ve 
Rad: 
Bird’s-Foot Trefoil. A perennial and a native of EHurope and 
Asia, bird’s-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) has recently been — 


widely publicized and perhaps overstressed as a wonder forage ; 
for irrigated, semi-irrigated, and sub-irrigated lands. It is be- — 
ing widely tested throughout the state to find its best use anda 
= . eel 
value, but as yet our experience with it is too limited to justify ate 

number of counties, indicate that this legume may have aioe 
place on moderately alkaline lands where irrigation or seep- E 
age waters are sufficient to meet its needs. The possible use — 
of bird’s-foot trefoil in dense Bermuda stands has been sus 
gested elsewhere in this catalog. It may well find a place ins 
areas where irrigation water cannot be applied often enough 
for Ladino clover, but probably will not supplant the latter for 
general use. Per lb. $2.15. 




























Domestic Ryegrass. Domestic ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum 
is a short-lived perennial and a native of Hurope. So much — 
breeding and selection work has been done on the ryegrasses" 
(of the genus Lolium) and so many local and trade names have — 
thus been attached to them that a word of general explanation — 
may not be out of place here. Practically all the cultivated 
ryegrasses originate in two species: Lolium multiflorum, most — 
commonly called “‘Italian ryegrass” or “annual ryegrass’, and — 
L. perenne, generally known as ‘“‘perennial ryegrass’’, or “Eng 
lish ryegrass”. Some call them both short-lived perennials 
while others call Italian ryegrass a short-lived grass, usual 
an annual. Various selections of Italian ryegrass are know 
as “Western-grown”, “Oregon grown’, ‘‘Domestic”, ‘Wim 
mera’, and ‘““‘Westerwold’’. Commercial seed now marketec¢ 
here is most commonly known as Western grown or as Do: 
mestic ryegrass, and it seems fairly certain that this contain 
a considerable percentage of hybrids with perennial ryegrass. 
In any event, mother stools have been konwn to survive in 
California for three or four years. Paceys ryegrass, Clunes — 
ryegrass, and many other selections of perennial ryegrass have | 
no outstanding merit above that of the parent. All strains 
Italian ryegrass can be distinguished from perennial ryegrass 
by the fact that the emerging leaves are rolled while in t! 
latter they are folded. Generally there are short awns on 
seeds of Italian ryegrass and not on perennial, but this char- 
acter varies markedly. 2a: 
. Se 
ine 
Domestic ryegrass is a more stemmy and less leafy plant 
than perennial. It owes its popularity as an irrigated pasture > 
plant in Calofirnia to its high palatability, its excellent growth 
and consequent high production and its early-spring growin ra 
habit. This latter quality renders it valuable as early feed and 
as a moderately good competitor with the flush spring gro 
of Ladino, clover—hence a valuable bloat deterrent. No othe 
grass we now have can compete with it in these respect : 
does tend to become dormant in late summer and should be © 
ee with other grasses to supplant it at that season. Per 
H 2aCs wee te 
Perennial Ryegrass. Perennial, or English, ryegrass (Loli 
perenne) is fully as palatable as Domestic and bears mo 
Lasal leafage, but does not produce as high a yield. It gro 
later in the summer and is desirable from that standpoint. 
pastures that are to be used largely for sheep, this is proba 
a better grass than its coarser relative. Per Ib. 35c. 

Sys WE CARRY ALL AVAILABLE GARDEN ACCESSORIES. 

