FORAGE CROPS 3 
BIRDSFOOT TREFOIL 
(Lotus corniculatus) 
Birdsfoot Trefoil is a fine stem, long lived legume 
forage crop which is fast gaining favor in American 
agriculture. It is especially valuable for use in perma- 
nent pastures and is often sown in combination with 
Kentucky Bluegrass. It seems adapted to a wide vari- 
ety of soil conditions and succeeds well on some soils 
which are so low in fertility that alfalfa and clover do 
poorly. It is drowth resistant once it is well estab- 
lished. This is a crop to give a first consideration for 
hill land you wish to seed permanently. Indications 
are that it is adaptable to most of the northern half 
of the United States. It makes good hay. 
In England it is regarded as a valuable bee plant. 
From Vermont and Minnesota come reports of good 
crops of very fine quality honey from it. While it is 
too soon to judge in full the extent of Birdsfoot Trefoil 
as a honey plant in this country, reports indicate that 
it is generally of value to the bees and we may expect 
it to be a good source of nectar at least for some lo- 
calities. It blooms here, beginning in June, and con- 
tinuing intermittently into September. 
Showing the spreading growth of Birdsfoot Trefoil 
For field culture, seed carefully on a firm, well pre- 
pared seedbed; three to five pounds per acre with 
Kentucky Bluegrass; or a smaller amount may be 
included with a permanent pasture mixture. Early 
spring seeding is most often practiced. 
Ask us for reprint, “Birdsfoot Trefoil—The Coming 
Legume.” 
There are two varieties of Birdsfoot Trefoil, the 
Broadleaf and the Narrowleaf. The Broadleaf variety 
is superior under most conditions. There are several 
strains of Broadleaf which may vary in hardiness and 
productivity. We consider it well worth the small dif- 
ference it may cost to start with seed of well known 
