Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-08-12
WHITE GLOVER.
a very b.ord, fisnt wIicb l. No, Abpfs.
uiated VI Anericah Farmers.

a..
A very Useful Plant wkich h Not Ahprs.
uiated ht American Farmers.
White clover receives good deal Of
abuse. probably because It is friend
which, without asking, is constantly
doing us gratuitous service. II il
needed much labor and cost to grow .
cfop 6f lt Il might be thought as iiiH6ll
of as red clover; which Il more highly
considered than any other agricultural
plant, and justly so, but IT costs a good
deal nevertheless No one takes any
trouble to grow white clover. II comes
up in the pastures without our seeding,
and when the ground Is well covered
with It we shall see the cows staying
where II is thickest, and coming home
with full uddors OF rich milk as long
as they can fill theft bellies with 1t
When we coide 10 study Into the PC.
culiarities OF this modest but useful
plant we find that IL by no means indi
Gates poor soil. as the common weed,
do, but that to grow luNuriantly II
needs a supply of elements Of fertility
MS potash, lime and phosphoric acid, Ia
even grcatef supply Thai fed clover
does. Its feeding value Of course is
equally high, for the value Of any
plant may bc accurately judged by
what il takes from the soil. The farm
erwho has noticed how the milk pail
overllows and tae cream lar is filed
when the cows are upon white clover,
will not want to ask the chemist
for any recommendation of this
plant which he will accept upon its
merits. Why. then, should white clover
be so badly spoken OFF Many farmers
and moro writers in agricultural jour
mails speak III of this plant. II may be
because 1t Il a pest In the garden, in
the strawberry beds more particularly,
and II is thought to run out red clover.
The last charge is the most base and
basclcss of all. For, instead of run
ming out red clover, It carefully covers
mp its dead remains, and, like loving
friend, spreads itself over its grave and
shelters IL, meanwhile Offering itself rs
very acceptable and long-lyed sub
stitutc for this short-lived plant, 1f
there is one plant more than amy other
which the farmer should take 10 his
heart and cherish it is white clover. II
is worth many times as much as alfalfa,
about which writers are setting farmers
wild with misplaced anxiety and envy.
Its an excellent pasture plant, and we
want pasture plants moro than any
thing else. Ii is a good hay plant.
especially when growing with grass.
aflording a thick, close bottom, which
greatly adds to the yield Of hay. 1t
springs up from its creeping perennial
root at once after cutting, and its roots
run out even the dreaded Canada
thistle and fill ~ vacant spaces among
the grass. When it is treated rs It de-
serves and Is top-drcsscd with plaster,
supcrphosphate or manure 1t will thrive
abundantly and make a growth which
will surprise those who never thought
of 1t except MS n weed to be dcspiscd.
IL IS called Dutch clover, and this Is a
great credit to il, for we know nothing
but good Of every thing we have of
Dutch origin, including Dutch farmers,
who, among their especial peculiaritics,
think very highly Of white cloyer.-M
L. Times,