The Dickinson press., 1914-02-28

nized by its clover-like appearance.
its vigorous growth and the distinctive
0dor or the leaves and stems. Il bears
spikes Of white flowers.
Being a legune, the plant is a nitro
gen conserver for the soil and it 10 noted
being remarkably rich in protein con-
tent. Well secured hay is even richer
In protein than alfalfa hay. One
sample Of hay, for instance, showed the
very remarkably high percentage of
'23.8. The average alfalfa hay contains
1876 per cent protein and the maximum
content in one list | consulted was
521.2. Hulled oats contain but 16 per
cent Of protein. Stock have to become
accustomed to eat sweet clover, especi-
ally when uncured. When once the
appetite is acquired, it appears to be q
palatable feed. An important objec-
tiont to it is that it tends to become
woody end stemmy. Even if cut before
blossoming, the hay is much stemmier
and less leafy than alfalfa hay. If cut
when the stem is very %succulentr the
hay is difficult to cure and it lacks the
weight that the crop would have had
had it grown longer. In its digestibil-
ity it compares favorably with alfalfa.
Sweet clover is quite sure to come into
considerable prominence in North Da-
kota in the future. One of it's functions
will be as a short rotation legume, TAX
ing the place Of June clover of the
more eastern states. In this connec-
tion it will be cut for hay: Sweet
clover will be of value in pastures , in
short-lived hog pastures as q portion Of
q mixture, aud as an element of more
permanent pastures. Sweet clover is
noted for its honey-producing qualities.
The seeds of sweet clover will germi-
nate and produce vigorous plants under
almost prairie-like conditions, and per-
haps upon the true prairie. The seeds
terminate and take root readily Under
severe conditions as upon we'll packed
roadways. AS a considerable proper
ton of the seeds are hard, a number no
doubt. persist one year or more in or on
the ground. The general effect is to
keep the plant more or less permanently
established-as a perennial in fact. for
all practical purposes.
Sweet clover has been grown upon
the Dickinson station farm since 1907,
mainly as a green manuring crop.
There are eight 4-year rotations in
Series B and in two Of these sweet
clover is sown with grain as a nurse
crop and the year following the sweet
clover is plowed under as green n
In two of the rotations, field peas are
used as a green manuring crop in two
of the rotations winter rye is used and
in the two remaining there is a sum-
mer fallow in place Of the green manur-
ing crop.
The yield of the wheat Cor oat) crop,
as an average for five years. disced in
on corn stubble. thus following corn.
is given as follows:
& CHARACTER OF ROTATION
Sweet Field Summer
Clover Peas Rye Fallow
Az. yld. wheat 21.6 21.2 1888 23.6
Av. yld. oats SIS ST. SOL 53.f
The results for sweet clover are about
the same as for peas. In the rotation
with rye, the wheat yield is consider.
ably larger. larger than when the rye
is replaced by summer-fallow. In re-
gard to the yields Of oats. little il
shown but it is apparent that there has
not been much advantage yet in the use
Of the sweet clover as a green manurinl
crop. ;
Sweet clover is being used ia Series {
rotation as a Green manuring crop bu,
it has a special purpose in this in.
stance. The rotation is to test the use
of raw rock phosphate in wheat grow
ing. The use of the green manure i.
to make the rock phosphate more
efficient and to provide nitrogen so thai
element will not be a limiting factor
in crop production. In one rotation Of
this series, the sweet clover was. taken
off ass hay crop. The yield of this
in 1918 was i, 800 pounds of cured hay
per acre. "
A piece was sown in 1912. thickly
spaced without a nurse crop for hay.
Aportion was drilled with the hullei
seed and from this a much better stand
was secured than that sown with un'
hulled seed. Some winter-killing wal
apparent but the percentage was moi
determined. A reasonable crop Of hay
y,x0o oort,red There vype fnn }iffla Yn0ia,