
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. Lb. 80c. 
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 irri- 
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. Per Jb. $1.10. 
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 well be made in order to develop facts as to its real place 
In irrigated pasture practice. 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. $2.25. 
Bird’s-Foot Trefoil. A perennial and a native of Europe 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 he- 
ing widely tested throughout the state to find its best use and 
value, but as yet our experience with it is too limited to justify 
its general use in irrigated pastures. It is producing hay and 
forage on the coastal plains of Humboldt County and is being 
grown in the delta of San Joaquin and Solano counties and 
‘on a sub-irrigated field near Dos Palos in Merced County. 
These limited experiences, plus the early results of tests in a 
number of counties, indicate that this legume may have a 
place on moderately alkaline lands where irrigation or seep- 
age waters are sufficient to meet its needs. The possible use 
of bird’s-foot trefoil in dense Bermuda stands has been sug- 
gested elsewhere in this catalog. It may well find a place in 
areas where irrigation water cannot be applied often enough 
for Ladino clover, but probably will not supplant the latter for 
general use. Per Ib. $1.75. 
Domestic Ryegrass. Domestic ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) 
is a short-lived perennial and a native of Europe. 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 mult.florum, 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, usually 
an annual. Various selections of Italian ryegrass are known 
as ‘‘Western-grown’”’, “Oregon grown’’, ‘‘Domestic’’, ‘‘Wim- 
mera’, and ‘‘Westerwold’”’’. Commercial seed now marketed 
here is most commonly known as Western grown or as Do- 
mestic ryegrass, and it seems fairly certain that this contains 
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 of 
Italian ryegrass can be distinguished from perennial ryegrass 
by the fact that the emerging leaves are rolled while in the 
latter they are folded. Generally there are short awns on the 
seeds of Italian ryegrass and not on perennial, but this char- 
acter varies markedly. 
Domestic ryegrass is a more stemmy and less leafy plant 
than perennial. It owes its popularity as an irrigated pasture 
plant in California to its high palatability, its excellent growth 
and consequent high production and its early-spring growing 
habit. This latter quality renders it valuable as early feed and 
as a moderately good competitor with the flush spring growth 
of Ladino clover—hence a valuable bloat deterrent. No other 
grass we now have can compete with it in these respects. It 
does tend to become dormant in late summer and should be 
mixed with other grasses to supplant it at that season. Per 
Ib. 25e. 
Perennial Ryegrass. Perennial, or English, ryegrass (Lolium 
perenne) is fully as palatable as Domestic and bears more 
Lasal leafage, but does not produce as high a yield. It grows 
later in the summer and is desirable from that standpoint. In 
pastures that are to be used largely for sheep, this is probably 
a better grass than its coarser relative. Per Ib. 35c. 


32 WE CARRY ALL AVAILABLE GARDEN ACCESSORIES. 
