The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-06-02
AlSike Clover.

A correspondent of the Wcstera R,vo2,
who has had three years experience in
growing Alsike clover, writes as follows:
Alsike clover is not adapted to light
sandy, or sandy and gravelly soils, with
porous or leach subsoils. With good
clay subsoil, it succeads better. But it
luxuriates in rich, thoroughly worked
clay loan soils, rich bottom lands, prai-
RE, and all marsh or swamp lands,
where they can be plowed so as TO kill
the wild grasses. Towering through
winter and spring does not injure it.
Here II will accept the situation and
display It's magnificent products on the
scale oi' FIVE tons of finely cured hay TO
the acre But mark deeply stirred,
rich. moist land, underdrained or sub
soiled, or both, will only produce this
burden. The chemical action of plaster
is str.kingly manifest in this plant.
Blossoms are developed more or less
when the plant is from eight to ten
inches in height and when three and
a half feet, it is perfect sea of bloom.
Millions of dollars may be added to
the wealth of this country. especially
the West, in few years by sowing one
acre this year, and gradually extending
its area. For soiling cows, horses, etc,
when pastures fail, it is equal or supe.
rior 70 green corn, and attended with
much less trouble in the gathering and
feeding. During the past year, cut
three crops from the same ground,
standing at the first cutting from two to
three feet in height: last cutting. one
foot in height. as thick as it could
stand. small, delicate stalks, with nu-
merous branches, and perfectly gloritied
with a mass of small peach blow colored
blossoms. filling the air with the most
delightful and exhilerating perfume,
and .warming with bees every fair day
The root is like red clover. but longer
and more fbrous. The haulm is small
tender, and nutritious when well
cured, as it should be. in full
bloom, every spear will be eaten with
avidity by all kinds of stock.
There is no plant known that will
produce so much good honey, butter,
cheese, beef, mutton. wool, and hay per
acre, as this plant. not even excepting
corn. In using the latter for soiling,
you get only the haulm, while in the
alsikc YOU get the haulm and large
ylelQ OF money anu III the gIOuuu IL dS
well prepared by deep filth, manure,
and plaster. or other fertilizers, as for
corn, you will get as much by weight of
the haulm.
Il bears feeding to an enormous de-
gree. | think its fattening qualities SUI
perior to the famous blue grass of
kentucky; and as it will flourish well
/, on such soils as ! have designated, from
the Gulf to Lake Superior, farmers can
easily divine its immense advantage to
their pockets Besides, the expense OF
Speeding down" every three or four
wears is saved. 1t is great renovator
and disintegrator of hard, tenacious
soils. Its long tap roots and numerous
fbers reach deep for its pabulum, and
thus loosen soil and endure drought
well. Some think there are two kinds
of this clover. think not. The diff.
ference in growth. ETC.. in diverse locali
Ties. is owing to the character Of the
soil. | never saw any but the large
kind on land once covered with beech
maple. oak, bass, lever wood, etc. and
never saw any but the small kind OF
light. sandy. and gravelly soils. Also
on nebblv soils, with calcarious debris
and good tenacious subsoil, it succeeds
well. Il is no humbug. Farmers, try i
and report results.