Elmore County Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1910-1915, 1913-05-03
SWEET CLOVER
OR BOKHARA

FOr many years sweet clover was
looked upon as a noxiOus weed, and
one Of the first questions asked when
buying alfalfa seel was, lie it free
from sweet clover?" In the past
few years sweet clover has become
very popular, not because the plant
itself has undergone any change, but
it's value has become More generally
k.own and better understood. This
is also true of many plants that we
consider of no use to mankind, but
each one of them is here for spe-
lcial purpose. Four or five years
ago the Wyoming college made a
lamb and sheepfeeding test and
found that sweet clover was superior
to alfalfa. About this time the farm
ers of western and northwestern Ne
braska began to use it as a fertilizer.
In some parts of Nebraska the soil is
more or less sandy and by blowing
under the second years growth they
increased their yield on wheat as
high as nine to fourteen bushels per
acre.
Rasmuss HOff, one of the fore
most agriculturists of the state OF
Idaho, said, 81 had ten acres OF
sweet clover, on which l pastured all
summer, seventeen head OF mich
cows. Not only cid l increase the
flow of milk and got q higher per-
centage of butter fat, but the cows
gained in weight
The plant is biennial and bears
a close resemblance to alfalfa, but
is larger and coarser in every way.
It will make an excellent growth on
lime lands, on stiffest clays, or on
soil SO hard and barren that 1t will
no longer sustain other vegetation. 1t
makes only a moderate growth and
seldom blooms the first year, but
during the second year 1t grows
from four to seven feet high, making
stronger and heavier roots than any
ether forage plant. At the end OF
the season it natures it's seed and
dies out, the roots decaying soon
after. On account Of it's strong Cd
or sweet clover Is not liked very
much by stock at first, but since 1T
starts very early in the spring when
other forage is scarce, animals ,turn-
ed into a pasture of it at that time
soon acquire a taste for 1t and eat
readily throughout the remainder OF
the season. Stock at any time turn
ed into field of sweet clover Will
never bloat on it as they do on other
clovers. When grown for hay one
crop and sometimes two can be cut
the following summer and fall; the
following year two and three crops
may be cut. Unless cut early just
before it begins to bloom, the stems
become hard and woody. Great care
ia needed in harvesting the hay as
the leaves drop readily from the
stems. The best time to handle 1t 10
early in the morning when the dew
ia still on. An excellent hay can
be made if taken care of as suggest
ed. While sweet clover will not sell
as readily on the market, 1t can be
used to advantage on the farm. IL
will not only furnish an excellent
pasture in the spring, but heaVy
crop throughout the growing season.
The roots are very long, penetrating
the soil to a depth Of three to four
feet are quite large, and being fleshy
decay more rapidly than alfalfa roots
hence their nitrogen becomes more
quickly available for other crops
As they decay at the end OF the Sec
ond season they add good supply
OF humus, also leave the soil WIFI
minute holes which act as drains
II cut before 1t ripens the seed VIII
not spread. However, 1t will reseeo
the ground thoroughly If not cut III