The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-02-28
ALSIKE CLOVER.

AS there are numerous inquiries con-
corning Alsike clover, l will give my
experience in raising this most yalua-
bic plant. 1t is only a few years since
the seed was imported from Sweden,
where it has been grown in the native
pastures for many years. The plant
bears greater resemblance to the COM
mon white than to the red clover. 1t
yields two mowings annually, if cut
expressly for hay when in full bloom,
which in this latitude is generally the
last ofJune or the first of July. But if
cut for seed it should stand about two
weeks later, then affording abundance
ofsuperior pasture for all kinds ofstock.
The seed is cut from the first crop. TGa
Alsike, when left to seed, has its stalks
and leaves yet green when its seeds are
ripe, and produces much better hay
than the red clover when it is cut for
that purpose.
The weight of seed required to be sown
is from three and half to four pounds
per acre, which is an abundance. The
seed being much smaller, less quau-
tity is required than of the red clover.
Four pounds of Alsike will seed more
land than ten pounds of red clover.
The seed is sown at the usual time of
sowing common red clover on wheat,
oats, rye or barley 1t generally Yields
from three to eight bushels of seed per
acre. The head is formed with pods,
like common white clover, with several
seeds in each pod
have tried Alsike by the side of
red clover four successive years, seed
sown at the same time and in the same
field, and find that cattle, horses, and
sheep will not Craze on the red clover
so long as they can get good bite on
the Alsike. My experience is, there is
no other clover equal to it for the pur-
pose offeeding cattle, sheep, and horses,
and | believe it to be equal to the red
clover as fertilizer 1t will flourish
on both dry and moist land; does not
suffer from the severest frost or drouth
as red clover does; is as free from fuzz
or dust as timothy, hence it will not
cause horses to cough or heave as red
clover hay does. 1t will grow from
one to two and half tons of superior
hay to the acre, according to the SEA
son.
| think | never had greater growth
OF red clover than ! raised four We ars
ago, growing from three to five fee in
length. Alsike has many more branch
es, leaves, and blossoms from the main
stalk than red clover; the hayis, there
fore, much finer, and far superior in
quality. In fact, it is of the same
nature as the common white clover,
which all farmers will unde rstand,
except growing to much larg sr size.
All farmers know, WHO have ha d eyper
ence, that common white clover pasture
is far superior to any red clover there
fore, if il woald grow large enough to
NOW. it would make much better hay
than red clover Aisike clover bios
SONS furnish an abundance of honey
for bees: they can work on them as
well as on the common white clover.
and can gather honey much faster
To sow the seed, mix the quantity of
seed with the quantity of plaster you
wish to sow per acre evenly, and sow
as if sowing plaster, except on smaller
lands. In SO doing you SOW your seed
at the same time that you sow your
plaster, saving the labor of going over
the field twice, and it can be sown
much more evenly. As the seed is so
small, and such little quantity is
required per acre, it is difficult to hold
the quantity in the hand or fingers that
is required, if sown by hand Plaster
should be sown as fertilizer as on red
clover
E. T. Bryan in Country Gentleman.