The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1870-01-28
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ALsIKE CLOVER.

This new clover is attracun&i
attention at the North, and des
more general test of its vsllie
middle States. We suspect. ne
that ii is chiefly adapted to mos
regions and sections not subject 90
Iong aiImraers. We find the following
intelligent article oa the subject In the
Country Gentleman;
Editors Counry Gentleman
notice that you are receiving ns-
merous inquiries sconcerninR the Alsike
clover, and will give my experience ~
raising this most valuable plant. ls
but few years since the weed WAS iia-
nortel from Sweden, but it has been
rrnitiyated there In the native pastures
for MANY years. The rootis tbrous.
aud the heads gobular, 18th hssn-col-
ored tlowers. The plant bears great
or resemblance to the comHon wnlte
I clover than TO the red lr yields TWO
mowings annually, II cut expressly iet
hay when in iull bloom, which III shls
| iatitude is generally the laSs OF j une or
tha first OF JULY. But II cut tor seed 1t
should stand about two weeks later,
! then afiording abundance OF superior
nasturags for all kinds or STOCK. lne
seed Is cnt from the ftr st crop. Inc
| Alsike when left to seed has iss sIHlSs
aud leaves yet green when ths see Us
are ripe, and produce mneh better hAy
than the red clover when caL lor tnas
| purpose. ,a-,,tra1 =,
he sown is. according to circumstances
| from three TO four pounds per acre; the
seed being much smaller, and branches
m1re, a less quantity IL required than
of tbe red clover. Three pounds oil
Aldke seed will seed as much as ten
rounds Of red clover. i sowed lsss
snriny there and half pounds per acre
and il IA thicker than necessary. The
seed sown ut the usual time OF so wing
common or red clover on wheat, OATS,
or barley. 1t generally Yields from
three to eight bas fels OF SEED per acre.
The heads are formed win pous hAe
the common white clover, WE e"feIai
seeds in each pod. have tried the Al,
sike by the side or red clover, .ne Sseu
sown at tho same time, cattle aHa sneep
Will not Craze on the red cioyef 90 'ons
gs they can get a good bite on the Al
sika Nv opiniun IL there iS 10 other
clover equal to it tor the purpose OF
feeding cattle, sheep and, horses, ana
even asa fertilizer. THE RED clover
will only last froln two to three years
in perfection. aud often, If the soil DC
cold snd moist, nearly hall OF the pfahts
will rot, and the first or sscsnd year
Ia Ia nlaces will be found in uiEny parts
or,ba field: besides in Sepse mber or
Oetobsr. many crspa left for seed are
lost in consequence OF heavy rain du-
rinr that period, while the A lsike clio,
!, yer ripens its seed mnch sooner, ana
continues in vigor much longer. lners,
: fore much risk and expense are sSolaso
, and large profits accordingly accrue.
, Farther, nhenthis piset - onee 90.
} tablished. it viii remain for many
vaarai in fuIl vigor. and produces an
: nuaIly greater quantity Of hefoago
6 of exceelcnt quality. 1t does not NJ
: ter from the seserest frost or drouSst'
"a tbs rad clover does. 1t will fieurish
: mn low cold, clay land, and on marshes
r thu. are drained sufficiently for grow
4 inc timothy or retop. 1t 10 as free
4 fcpm fuzz OF dust as timothy, and u
S will not produce cough or heeves. IL
s will grow from one aud halt to three
f tons Of superior hay per acre, accord
:. inc 10 season. | think ! never saS 2
orest,r erowth OF red clover than 1
D rslssd this season OF the Alsike. Grow-
ing from three to i've feet ia length, u
has many more branches, leaves, sne
a blossoms, growing from the man slAi' !
Y than red clover. Therefore the hhy u
= much finer. and far superior ih qust'
l. ty. In fact, /: is of the saue iAtnr'
1t as the common white eloyeri when a.
,r farmers understand, except growing q
10 much larger size. All farmers know
% " wbo haye had 81 psrisuce, that common
l. white clover pasture is FAR superior '
4 any red clover. Therefore, II II grey
70 larps enough to NOV, it womb hlsk
j, foueh bstter hay than red clover lu
< AIsike clover blossoms furnEn al
10 abunflancs of honey for bees. The.
Y ca, work on them as veil As OIL tn
= common white clover, and gather hon
vi ry mpeh faster. - ~
I'd q. 4. D.