The Dermott news., 1916-03-02
Forage Crops for
Arkansas
Eight Studies in Supplementary
Farm Feeds
CuOVERS.
Earl fitzpatrick. Extension Agrono-
mist. University Of Arkansas.
GLOVE S.

Earl fitzpatrick. Extension Agrono-
mist. University OF Arkansas.
large variety of clovers can be
grown In Arkansas. The acreage
should be increased many times. The
ciovers belong 70 that class OF plants
known as soil builders. They have
the power of using the free nitrogen
from the air. This ability is due TO
the action of certain bacteria which
form nodules on the clover roots. II
these crops are grown and pastured
Of turned under. or fed TO livestock
and the manure returned nitrogen Will
be added to the soil When any OF
the clovers except Japan clovers are
eown on land where they have never
been before the soil should be inocu
lated with the soil method or by the
pure culture method.
The clovers may be divided into
three classes First. those which live
for two or more years as Red. Alsike.
White or white blossomsd sweet do
YER Second. summer ANNALS or those
which are seeded in the spring and
mature and die in the fall as Japan
clover Third. winter anuuals or
those which are sown in the summer
Or fall and mature and die the fol
lowing summer as Bur and crimson
Glover Each group has its place in
he cropping system.
Red Glover lasts for only two years
under ordinary conditions unless It Is
allowed to reseed itself, II makes its
best growth on clay loan soil. Good
drainage and liberal supply of lime
IN the soil is essential. The usual
rate OF seeding is - TO Is pounds to
the acre when seeded alone or b TO )
pounds pere acre in mixture with
grasses Best results are usually Sc
seeding may be done but then there
is danger OF damage TO the young
plants by the weeds or dry weather
during the summer,
Alsike clover is adapted to soils OF
a wet nature II Will GROW on soil that
is deficient in lime better than any OF
the other clovers, II is often seeded
in permanent pastures or meadows
along with grasses on soils that are
poorly drained The usual rate OF
seeding IS 8 to : pounds per acre.
Japan clover or Lespede4a Is nat
ural growth especially in the south
and eastern part OF Arkansas. II does
well IN a mixture with Bemuda. or
after oats and wheat Seeding should
be done the latter part OF Eebruary
or March The seed may be broad
casted on the Bermuda sod or on the
wheat or oats and narrowed IN ON
wheat or oats seed at the rate of a
hushcI per acre Four or 1--WE pouIsis
per acre viii serve as start on Der
muda II will reseed itself each year
II given a chance.
Crimson and Bur Glover should
be grown more than they are. Fhey
grow when other crops are not grow
Ing They hold the soil from wash
ing Plant foods that would be lost
during the winter and spring are
taken up and retained they furnish
a splendid pasture during the spring
and sometimes during the winter. n
pastured of or turned under they fur-
nish large supply OF humus and nit
rogen TO the soil Both OF these clio
yers should be seeded in the last 81
August or September. They may be
~ 10 corn
middles and covered with a harrow.
The rate OF seeding is 10 pounds OF
crimson clover and two or three bush
els of bur clover in the bur per acre.
A bushel of bur clover in the bur
weighs ten pounds.
Bur clover is particularly adapted
for growing with Bermuda IL fur
nsshes pasture during the winter
end spring when the Bermuda 10 not