Alsike clover

Description

"Alsike clover is most at home in northern latitudes or at high altitudes. It thrives best in a cool, moist climate. In the Ohio Valley alsike clover is especially adapted to low, wet, fertile land. On such land it will yield heavy crops of first-class hay and will make more than one crop in a season. This crop will grow on "sour" land on which red clover will not thrive. Where it is not possible to apply lime and so insure a stand of red clover, alsike clover may be used. Mixed with red clover on uplands, alsike clover insures a stand on spots where red clover does not catch. Alsike clover is used mostly in mixtures with timothy or other grasses. In such mixtures it improves the hay and increases the yield. The grasses serve to support the clover and make it easier to cut and cure. Alsike clover will endure overflow that would kill most crops. It has been know to grow a year in water-soaked and water-covered soil and make a heavy growth. In the South it is recommended for creek bottoms and other wet lands. It is a good clover to seed in swales or on wet, natural meadows. It volunteers readily and ill spread in such places. Its disadvantages are: (1)On uplands alsike clover grows short and does not make a mass of growth equal to that of red clover. (2)Alsike clover makes no second crop except on low, rich land. (3)On uplands the pasturage after cutting for hay or a seed crop is too small to be useful. (4)There appears to be some danger to horses and mules of a little-known disease said toe result from eating alsike clover."--Page [2].

Subjects

Series Statement

• Farmers' bulletin / United States Department of Agriculture -- no. 1151