Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-12
SWEET CLOVER FOR PASTURE;
HOGS THRIVE WELL ON 1T

BLACkSBUEG. VA. March ii.--w.
T. bowers. associate professor Of
aGronomy at the Virginia Polytechnic
institute. thinks that tho prejudice Of
farmers against sweet clover as a pas
turc for stock is unfounded. and gives
some reasons for this opinion Mr..
Bowers says:
Sweet clover furnishes excellent
pasture for horses. cows. sheep and
swine. Formerly farmers have been
much preJudiced against this plant be-
cause stock usually will not eat il
when first allowed access to it. How
ever. as knowledge is gained of the
advantages that sweet clover has for
pasturing. a more favorable attitude
replaces this prejudice.
Sweet clover if seeded in the early
spring. viii furnish grazing about May
!. AT which time it is from four 10
six inches tall. and may be grazed
through the whole season il not pas
tured too heavily. 1t produces the
grazing in early spring of the second
year and il is at this time that stock
may easily he taught to like it, There
bcins no other green feed for them
aud being anxious for such feed at this
time they viii cat the clover more
readily and will hastily acquire an APP
petite for ii.
After animals become accustomed to
eating sweet clover. they often prefer
II 10 All other common pasture plants
and usually will thrive on il equally
AS we'll as when on other pasture IL
not better. However sweet clover will
gradually become woody and every Of
fort should he made to keep a sufficient
number OF animals on ii to prevent
| this. II this cannot he done il is we'll
to Keep the plants clipped hack in
order to stimulate tho growth OF new
shoots. Ordinarily from fifteen to
twenty head of medium sized hogs will
! flourish on an acre Of sweet clover. hut
better growth is obtained when grain
ia fed in connection with the clover
Sweet clover not only furnishes early
SraH'nE. nut " grows for longer
period. and late pasturaGe is secured
in tho carly fail long after other pas
ture plants have ceased to grow. II
survives admirably the midsummer
dronths. furnishing good. succulent
pasturaEc during the period when no
othc. regular plants arc growing in
tho pastures. II withstands tramplins
without any apparent injury. Ere
ruently sweet clover is used TO sup
plant other pastures.
To obtain hest results from pas
turing sweet clover. il is advisable TO
devote two fields To ii. one being seed
! cd tho year after the other. ny this
method it il possible to transfer the
stock from one ncld to the other in
case tho animals are grazing too heav-
! lily one, Also. stock can he taken
+, off the old field at tho proper time in
order to secure seed for further plant
ing. and still have the new field for
pasturinc. Furthermore, good Yield
OF nutritious hay can he obtained from
the old fcld IL hay is wanted instead
of seed. provided the stock is not al
lowed 10 pasture too long before m9k.
| ing the transfer. which should b. ma dc
/ 4
Sweet clover rarely causes bioat. In
J, this it has ~ great advantage for pas
turc over other common, green for
| age crops. Floating from alfalfa. and
/ red and white clover often causes
serious loss. hut sweet clover Is ordi-
narily regarded as safe in this respect
/ This great advantage makes sweet
I clover especially preferred for pas
4 turing cattle and sheep.
\ 1t is tho belief OF some that svce,
I clover tain,s milk and butter wher
fed 10 n,i'ct cows. However, this ac-
. cusation is not proved but, on thu
oth"r hand. according 10 statements OF
many growers. sweet clover ncithss
/ taiuts milk nor any butter. An excel
len, now Of milk is produced from pas
7 turing sweet clover. Its feeding value
is ahou, tho same as alfalfa and red
, clover Ii is very palatable after stock
acquire taste for its bitterness. "
does no; produce the washy effects
which occurs with many other pasture
plants