Book: Clovers and How to Grow Them

T >> Thomas Shaw >> Clovers and How to Grow Them




It can scarcely be called a rotation plant, since it more commonly grows
in the wild form, and on lands so poor as to be considered unprofitable
for regular cropping. But when cultivated, it should be followed by some
crop that can make a good use of the nitrogen left in the soil in the
tubercles formed on the roots of the beggar weed plants.

The soil does not, as a rule, require deep stirring when preparing it
for beggar weed. This fact finds demonstration in the ability of the
plants to re-seed the ground when grown for grazing.

The seed is usually sown in the Gulf States late in March or early in
April. It germinates slowly, and the plants make the most vigorous
growth after the weather becomes warm. The seed is more commonly
scattered broadcast, but may be drilled in, and at distances that will
or will not admit of cultivation as may be desired. Thick seeding is
preferable to prevent coarseness and woodiness in the growth of the
plants. Not less than 10 pounds of hulled seed per acre should be sown
in the broadcast form when sown for hay. When sown in drills, less seed
is required, but usually the seed is sown broadcast. In the hulled form,
in which the seed is more commonly sold, according to Professor H. H.
Hume, the measured bushel weighs 60 to 64 pounds, and with the hulls on,
from 10 to 40 pounds, the average weight, as purchased by dealers, being
about 20 pounds. The cleaned seed bears considerable resemblance to
clover seed.

All kinds of farm stock, as cattle, horses, mules, sheep and even swine,
are said to do well when grazing on beggar-weed pastures in the summer
and autumn. They do not usually graze it closely after it has been well
started, owing to the woody character of the stems. When thus cropped
back, it starts out afresh, and thus continues to produce grazing until
the arrival of frost. It is said that the pasture is of but little value
in winter. One strong point, however, in favor of such pastures, is the
ability of the plants to re-seed the land when not grazed too closely,
and thus to perpetuate the grazing from year to year.

No little diversity of opinion exists as to the value of this plant for
producing hay. Some growers speak highly of its palatability and
nutrition. Others speak of it as being of very little value as a hay
plant. This difference in opinion is doubtless due largely to cutting
the crop at different stages of growth. If allowed to become too
advanced before it is cut, the woody character of the hay would
doubtless make it unpalatable, whereas, if cut early, at least as early
as the showing of the first blooms, if not, indeed, earlier, it would be
eaten with a much greater relish. The yields of hay are said to usually
exceed 2 tons per acre.

The seed matures in September and October. The methods of saving the
seed have usually been of a somewhat primitive character, as by hand
when saved in small quantities. But there would seem to be no reason why
the seed crop could not be harvested by the binder.

Where alfalfa or cow peas can be successfully grown, either crop would
be preferable. But on some soils these are not a success, especially
when the first attempts are made to grow crops. The choice of hay may be
one between a crop of beggar weed and no crop at all. All are agreed as
to the renovation which it brings to soils; hence, when grown or allowed
to grow on unproductive soil for a few years and then plowed under, the
soil becomes productive. Since it grows late rather than early in the
season where the seed is in the land, it will not interfere with the
growth of the corn, but will come on later, and thus exert a beneficial
influence on the soil. But the fact should not be overlooked that beggar
weed once in the land has considerable power to stay there. In other
words, like sweet clover, it has some of the characteristics of a weed.


BUFFALO CLOVER

Buffalo clover (_Trifolium stoloniferum_) is a native species procumbent
in its habit of growth. The leaves are most abundant at the base of the
plants. The flower heads, about an inch in diameter, are rose colored,
and rise to the height of about one foot from the ground.

This variety, said to be perennial in its habit of growth, is probably
the same as _Trifolium reflexum_, said to be biennial in Kansas. Plants
are found growing wild in prairies, between forests, and in open
woodlands, from Kentucky on the east, to Kansas on the west. It is
thought that this clover would repay cultivation, but the author has not
been able to get any information bearing upon its behavior under
cultivation.


SEASIDE CLOVER

Seaside clover (_Trifolium invulneratum_) has rendered some service to
agriculture in what is known as the "Great Basin," which includes parts
of Oregon and Nevada. In Bulletin No. 15, Bureau of Plant Industry,
issued by the United States Department of Agriculture, it is referred to
as one of the most promising species for cultivation in that area. Under
the influence of irrigation it has spread, in one instance cited, into
sage brush soil, and there, along with timothy and red top, has aided in
producing fine crops. In, low, swampy, non-alkaline areas, it often
yields from 1/2 to 1-1/4 tons of hay per acre. It has been estimated
that with correct conditions it would be found about equal in producing
power and feeding value to alsike clover. It is at least questionable,
however, if it is likely to supersede to any considerable degree the
varieties already under general cultivation.




INDEX

Alfalfa
discussion of 114-193
described 114
distribution 120
soils 129
place in rotation 135
preparing the soil 137
sowing 145
cultivating 154
pasturing 155
as soiling food 166
harvesting for hay 170
storing 172
securing seed 179
renewing 184
sources of injury 187
as a fertilizer 191

Alsike clover
discussion of 194-217
described 194
distribution 197
soils 199
place in rotation 201
preparing the soil 202
sowing 204
pasturing 208
harvesting for hay 210
securing seed 212
renewing 216

Bloating 94

Buffalo clover
discussion of 344

Burr clover
discussion of 291-299
described 291
distribution 293
soils 293
place in the rotation 294
preparing the soil 295
sowing 295
pasturing 297
harvesting for hay 297
securing seed 297
renewing 298
as a fertilizer 298

Clover
introduction 1-5
definition 1
varieties 2
distinguishing characteristics 3
plan of discussion 4

Clover, general principles for growing
discussion of 6-56
adaptation in 6
place in the rotation 7
preparing the soil 11
fertilizers 13
seasons for sowing 16
methods of sowing 18
depth to bury the seed 21
sowing alone or in combinations 22
with or without a nurse crop 25
amounts of seed to sow 27
pasturing 29
harvesting 31
storing 33
feeding 35
renewing 37
as soil improvers 38
as a weed destroyer 43
clover sickness 45
possible improvement in 46
bacteria and clovers 47

Clovers, synonyms
Alexandrian 322
Alsace 194
Aspercet 317
Berseem 322
Beggar ticks 338
Beggar weed 338
Black Medic 329
Black Nonesuch 329
Bokhara 300
Branching 114
Broad-leaved 57
Burgundy 114
California 291
Chilian 114
Cocks head 317
Cow clover 218
Cow grass 218
Creeping Trifolium 258
Dutch 258
Elegant 194
Esparcette 317
Fachl 323
French clover 338
French grass 317
German 238
German mammoth 238
Giant beggar weed 338
Giant 218
Honeysuckle 258
Hop 328
Hop trefoil 329
Hybrid 194
Italian 238
Large 218
Lucerne (Alfalfa) 114
Mammoth 57
Meadow 218
Meadow trefoil 57
Medick vetchling 317
Mexican 114
Minnesota 118
Monthly 114
Muscowi 323
Nonesuch 329
Pea vine 218
Perennial 114
Perennial hybrid 194
Perennial red 218
Pod 194
Red perennial meadow 118
Rhenish 218
Saida 323
Sand Lucerne 118
Saplin 218
Shamrock 258
Sicilian 114
Soiling 218
Spotted Medick 291
Stem 114
Swedish 194
Styrian 114
Tall 218
Tickweed 338
Tree 300
Turkestan 118
Wavy stemmed 218
White Dutch 258
White Melilot 300
White Swedish 194
White trefoil 258
Winter 238
Yellow 291
Zigzag 218

Crimson clover
discussion of 238-257
described 238
distribution 241
soils 244
place in the rotation 245
preparing the soil 248
sowing 250
pasturing 252
harvesting for hay 253
securing seed 254
renewing 256
facts regarding 256

Dodder 190

Egyptian clover
discussion of 322-328

Florida clover
discussion of 338-344

Grasshoppers 189

Hoven 94

Inoculation, soil 53

Japan clover
discussion of 279-290
described 279
distribution 282
soils 283
place in the rotation 284
preparing the soil 285
sowing 285
pasturing 287
harvesting for hay 288
securing seed 289
renewing 290
new variety 337

Mammoth clover
discussion of 218-237
described 218
distribution 220
soils 222
place in the rotation 224
preparing the soil 226
sowing 227
pasturing 231
harvesting for hay 233
securing seed 234
renewing 236
compared with medium red 237

Medium red clover
discussion of 57-113
described 57
distribution 61
soils 65
place in the rotation 70
preparing the soil 74
sowing 75
pasturing 91
harvesting for hay 95
storing 100
securing seed 103
renewing 109
as a fertilizer 110

Micro-organisms 48

Nitragin 53

Nodules in clover plants 49

Root tubercles 50

Sand Lucerne
discussion of 333-337

Sainfoin
discussion of 316-322

Seaside clover
discussion of 345

Sweet clover
discussion of 300-315
described 300
distribution 303
soils 305
place in the rotation 306
preparing the soil 307
sowing 308
pasturing 309
harvesting for hay 310
securing seed 311
renewing 311
value for bee pasture 312
as a fertilizer 313
value on alkali soils 314
destroying the plants 314

Tubercles, root 50

Weeds troublesome 235

White clover
discussion of 258-278
described 258
distribution 261
soils 264
place in the rotation 265
preparing the soil 267
pasturing 270
harvesting for hay 271
securing seed 273
renewing 276
for lawns 277
as a honey plant 278

Yellow clover
discussion of 328-332


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Transcriber's Notes:

List of Illustrations: The number '2' was missing before 'Medium Red'.
Changed.

Page 53: The term 'nitragin' though an odd spelling and is capitalized
elsewhere, as it is a commercial name. Unchanged.

Page 60: The term 'adap s' is a typo for 'adapts'. Changed.

Page 69: The term 'throgh cropping' is a typo for 'through cropping'.
Changed.

Page 100: The phrase 'skilled workmen' is a typo for 'skilled workman'.
Changed.

Page 103: The term 'pollenization' may be a substitute for 'pollenation'
or 'pollination'. Unchanged.

Page 122: The term 'Sask' is apparently a substitute or abbreviation
here for the province of 'Saskatchewan'.

Page 124: The phrase 'western alleys' is a typo for western valleys.
Changed.

Page 124: The phrase 'largely de-depend' is a typo for 'largely depend'.
Changed.

Page 189: The phrase 'many instance' is a typo for 'many instances'.
Changed.

Page 197: The phrase 'with beekeepers' changed to 'with bee-keepers' to
be consistent with two other occurrences.

Page 229: The term 'Seee page 78' is a typo for 'See page 78'. Changed.

Page 309: The phrase 'ground through self-feeding' is a typo for 'ground
through self-seeding'. Changed.

Page 317: The term 'Asperset' is spelled 'Aspercet' in the index.
Unchanged. Couldn't determine correct spelling.

Page 326: The phrase 'it it clearly a catch crop' is a typo for 'it is
clearly a catch crop'. Changed.

Index Page 349: Although the term 'Sanfoin' is an acceptable alternate
spelling for 'Sainfoin', it doesn't match other occurrences in this
text. Changed.

Several instances of comma and periods either missing or interchanged in
original text have been fixed without listing each. They are obvious
errors.

Various: The term 'midsummer' is also spelled 'mid-summer' in this book.
Unchanged.

End of Transcriber's Notes.

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