The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1869-02-11
AIsike. or Swedish Clover.
7rifolium Hg5,idrvn.-A Perennial

7fjoIim1 Hy5tidrm.-A Perennial.
ALsIKE CLOVER is a hybrid between our
common Red and White Clovers. 1t has
of late attained very high reputation as
one Of the best clovers for forage and is
quite an acquisition to our pasture plants.
The blossom of this clover is half white
and pale red, and about half the size of
Red clover blossoms. Mixed with grass,
it is cultivated with great advantage on
permanent grass LAND, whether employed
tor pasture or moving. Alsike has de-
rived its name from the parish of Alsike,
in upland Sweden, where it was first dis
covered, and where it grows in great abund-
ance. 1t is found growing wild in Sweden
and Norway, where it proves hardy and
productive. 1t was not until the beginning
OF the present century that this clover was
brought into cultivation 1t was intro
duced into England in 1884, and since
then has spread into the different German
states and other parts of Europe, and this
country. From the experience have had
with Alsike in Pennsylvania, I consider it
the best clover grown for hay or pasturage.
1t has pale red and white flowers a long,
lank stalk, and oval, obtuse leaves, which
are smaller and of lighter green than
those of the Red clovers. The blossom,
growing from the upper leaf joint, is globu-
lar, and formed of fragrant blossoms sup
ported by stems. These blossoms are at
first whitiSh and upright, and turn gradu-
ally to pale red, which, when Towering
has passed, become brown and somewhat
bent. The calyx is smooth, and has tags
of equal length.
! Alslke clover does not attain its full luxu-
rance until the second year after sowing,
and during the first yesr seldom arrives
at any great degree of growth, unless on
a rich, moist, clay soil. In the spring of
1867, | grew, from seed sown about the
| trst of March, clover twenty-four inches
in hight. The spring was very wet and
warm, and clover of all kinds grew extra
ordinarily and lodged very much This
Alsike or Swedish Glover is best adapted
to mixture with other grasses For per-
manent grass land, Orchard grass and Al
sike clover mixed, [ consider the best and
most nutritious fodder that can be grown
for all kinds of stock. Orchard grass and
Alsike flower at the same time, and can
be moved as soon as in flower, or as soon
as the flower commences willing Alsike
clover flowers ripen very slowly, and can
stand long time after coming in flower
1t is the best clover to SOW with timothy,
as it does not die off and get black. If
the farmer wishes to let his timothy stand
until after harvest, as great many farm.
ers do, the Alsike will still hold q fresh
green color, and give the dry, over-ripe
timothy, fresh and healthy appearance,
and will also make timothy feed far better,
as stock relish timothy, especially if it be
over ripe, where there is mixture of good
green clover in it. Alsike yields on suitable
soil, when mixed with grass, two tons per
acre. 1t loves clay soil, especially marty
clay. 1t also thrives on almost any kind
of soil with clay mixture. Aisike clover
does not grow as rank as common clover
after moving. therefore no second crop
can be expected from it, as in the case of
Red clover. It's great advantage lies in
the fact that it is more hardy than any of
the Red clOvers and can be cultivated on
moist soil and land that is flooded at Ger
tain times of the year, on which Red clover
will not grOw.-Fdrns Journal.
Alsike clover will stand more hard freez-
ing than any other that is cultivated for
feed. 1t has long tap-root, with side
roots which take fast hold in the soil 1t
is best adapted to moist rich soil, and
| grows luxuriantly in wet loamy meadows.
The seed pods have, /, ?, 3, and some
times 4 grains of seed, which extend out of
the calyx surrounded by the withered
crown. The seed is about one third the
size of that of the common Red clover,
and similar in shape; its color is a dark
green, verging somewhat to violet. One
pound of Alsike seed contains coo, 000
grains, whereas pound of Red clover
seed has only 100000 grains; pounds of
Alsike are sufficient to sow an acre.