New Iberia enterprise and independent observer., 1910-09-03
SPOTTED BUR GLOVER.

ING ASSOCIATION.
SPOTTED BUR CLOVER.
Among the newer plants when
| have been introduced INTO the
South the spotted bur clover prom
isrs to be Of ecouomc importance.
II is now an unknown plant to
most farmers vel il belongs to a
genus of plants which includes
alfalfa as its most famous mem
ber. TIL name Of the genus IS
Mcdcago but it IS sometimes
shortened to Medic The Spot
ted bur clover has been called
Spotted Medic and 'the California
bur clover. T3othed Medic. There
are many other species OF TINS
genus known to hotaniStS but the
seedmen handle the seed only Of
alfalfa California bur clover and
Spotted bur clover.
Both of the clovers here men
toned are annual plants, i. e.,
plants which de down every
year and are reproduced only
from the seed. Both are GOOD
plants but the Spotted bur clover
is somewhat harder than the Cal
ifornia bur clover and Judging
from experience. is the better plant
to recommend.
Uses of the Plant.
Very little has been done with
this clover for hay-mallIng and
it is at least an open question
whether il will prove a satlSfac-
tory hay plant but it may and
should occupy another niche in the
agriculture If the South--a niche
of real Importance.
As a Winetr Glover.
One Of the crying needs Of
Southern agriculture is that the
soil be covered in winter with a
growing crop. Crops Of corn and
cotton covering.as they do. nearly
90 per cent of the cultivated lands
Of the cotton region leave the
ground bare IN Winter subJectlng
it to rains which gutter and guile
the hillsides and wash the best
part of the soil into the rivers
muddying the same and interfer-
ing with navigation. There is a
period of six months. from Octob-
err | to April | when something
should be growing on the land
even though it is plowed under
by the latter date. For this pur-
pose one may sow anything which
grows in the Fall, Winter and
Spring. such as wheat, oats. rye,
barley. red clover. crimson clov-
err. the vetches or bud clover. Sim
ply as a winter cover the Spotted
bur clover is not superior to some
Of the crops mentioned but it is
good for the purpose and ought |
w bf UoNt III lhiS way.
Asa Pasture.
Any Winter clover crop may be
used for pasture if des red. Spot
ted bur clover is a good pasture
and ought to be used freely as
such. Poultry arc fond of the
growing plants In the growing sea-
son and hens eat the dry, mature
burs after the crop is ripe June
1st and after. Sheep and hogs
are very fond of tbs clover and
do well nn it. Cattle horses and
mules need to be educated to it
is good. nutritious pasture for all
kinds Of stock. When sowed ear
" enough it makes Fall and Win
ter pasture but when sowed late
,r when Fall is unfavorable for
growth 1t makes little pasture be-
fore early Spring. During Mar.
Apr. and May, however, it makes
. very vigorous growth. Bur
,lover pasture and Bermuda pas
ure make a fine combination.
There Is one Bermuda bur clover
pasture near Monticello. Arkan-
'as of narly 30 years standing
IN which the bur clover has per-
'etuated itself during the whole
'eriod. 1t goes to seed about
'une 1st and comes again from
he seed in the Fall. Even un-
or rather close grazing it makes
eed close to the ground and per-
etuates itself To start it on
'ermuda sod it is best TO scarify
le surface or TO plant in minia-
ure fari ows few feet apart
hence 1t will spread across the
space.
As a Fertilizer.
Spotted bur clover is a nitrogen
athefer Ike eowpeas and enrich
, the soil with this plant food
ut. unlike cowpeas. il makes its
roxtb in the Fall, Winter and {