The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1915-10-12
SWEET CLOVER GAINING In
FAVOR AS CULTIVATED CROP
Many Parts Country Very Good Winter Gov
er Crop and Prevents Outlying Washing.

Sweet clover, which IS so common
along roadsides and in waste places
in many parts of the country, is rap
Idly gaining favor as cultivated
crop. This is due to its value for
soil improvement, for pastures, and
for hay. There are three species Of
sweet clover commonly found in the
! United States. The biennial yellow
lowered species (Melilotus officinal.
isl and the biennial white lowered
species (Melilotus ALBA are valuable
over wide area, while the annual
yellow lowered species (Melilotus in.
dica) is of little economic import
ance except in the extreme South and
Southwest, where 1t is grown as a
winter cover and green manure crop.
With the exceptions of few local.
ties, white sweet clover is grown al
most entirely. This is due to the
fact that It yields more forage and
produces larger roots than the 9th.
er species. The white lowered spe-
cies is ordinarily referred to as sweet
clover, while the other two species
are called yellow sweet clover.
Sweet clover resembles alfalfa
when young but can be distinguish
ed from 1t by its bitter taste, its
smooth shiny leaves and later, when
in bloom, by the long, loose spike
like arrangement OF white flowers in
contrast to the close purple clusters
of alfalfa flowers. One of the most
notable features of sweet clover is
its root system. During the first
season of growth the roots often
reach a diameter of one half inch
at the crown of the plant. On &C.
count of the fleshy character of the
roots. large quantity of vegetable
matter is added to the soil even
when the tops of the plants are re.
moved for hay
Uses Of Sweet Clover
There are few plants which will
put waste land or run down farms
into condition for producing crops as
quickly as sweet clover. Its value
for this purpose is recognized In Ala
bama and Mississippi, and also in
parts OF Kentucky and Ohio. On ac-
count of the root development OF this
plant, large quantities of vegetable
matter are added to the soil when
A field of sweet clover is plowed. The
root system alone has been estimated
% be about 20 tons of green weight
Ger acre for a good growth of sweet
clover. In some parts of the country
I has been used in small way as
| green manure crop, the second
ears growth being plowed under.
BY turning under a crop sweet clover
n only the stubble, marked gains are
obtained in the following crop.
Sweet clover is very good win
err cover crop in that 1t prevents the
oils from outlying and WASHING. It
.lso takes up large quantities OF
valuable fertilizers which would
leach out ow the soil during
he winter. On account OF the large
ap rots OF sweet clover plants. pot
ssium and phosphorus may be taken
Ip in the subsoil and deposited at
east in part, in the surface soil
When the roots decay.
Since sweet clover Is a biennial,
Ike red clover. 1t is readily adapted
o similar rotations. Sweet clover
will undoubtedly prove to be a valu-
bile crop as a substitute for red
lover in the ordinary farm rotations
here red clover will no longer grow
I may be seeded in the spring on
rain as red clover Is sown. When
eeded in this manner some pastur-
ge will be produced that fall In the
North and pasturage or hay crop
n the South. The following season
/ produces two crops In the North
md three crops in the South. II may
,e handled In manner similar to
ed clover.
Very Desirable as Feed
Sweet clover hay is rapidly COM
ng into favor as feed for all
classes of live stock especially in
,lace where more desirable types
II hay will not grow successfully.
ordinarily some trouble is experience
ID In getting stock to eat sweet
,lover at first, on account OF its bit
Ter taste, but after they have been
to eating It no trouble |
s experienced. A high percentage
u digestible protein is contained In
he hay.
Sweet clover makes excellent pas
horses. sheep, cattle and |
logs Probably the easiest way to |
create an appetite for this plant is
% commence pasturing stock on It |
very early in the spring OF the sec
~