The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-09-07

sweet clover tMeItIOtuS Alba.l
This discussion refers to the native
wild white blooming melilotus cul-
tivated in many sections of the south.
as a bay, forage and fertilizing plant.
but may be found growing promis-
cuously In waste places all over the
south. II the plant possessed no
other merit than as a food for the
honey bee 1t would deserve our pro-
found gratitude. have before me
bulletin, published by northern
agricultural school Is years ago,
which denounces all species of the
sweet clover family as pernicious
weed pests and tells the farmers how
to destroy. Today largely through the
propaganda of this same school, the
sweet clover has become a plant of
enormous economic value and is
highly recommended by this school as
the salvation ,of soil fertility. The
white blooming biennial sweet clover.
first grown and known in Alabama
as melilotus, has taken the north
ern part of the United States by
storm, establishing a record that no
other one plant has ever approached.
This is another case where home
talent and things in general are
never fully appreciated at hone.
There are lot OF people right here in
Birmingham, as well as other parts
of Alabama, who are actually better
known, for their plishments.
throughout the north than they are
In the home town.
Alsilxe Glover
1t has only been few years ago
when very little of the true ciovers
were ever seen growing in the lati-
tude of Birmingham and further
south. Most of the soils south Of
adapted to the growth of red clover
due mainly to like OF soluble lime
in the soil and the absence of GER
tain soil bacteria, so necessary fer
a success with red clover. Red clover
las, however, been gradually en-
croaching further south, due to the
wild and miscellaneous growth of
white clover and the successful cul-
tivation of crimson clover, both of
which plants possess the same bac-
tcria as red clover. Alsike clover,
sometimes called Swedish and hybrid
clover, Is hybrid of red clover, much
harder than red clover and will grow
under conditions where red clover
might prove failure. The two
plants are much alike. only the alsike
QOu grow Quitt 81 tall 10 u a
finer texture and much more desir-
able as pasture. Alsike Is later
iii blooming. more spreading in char
acter, leaves have pronounced mark
ings of white, blossom more rounded
and color q lighter shade of PINK.
Alsike is particularly desirable to
SOW in a pasture mixture of grasses
and when once established will per-
sist indefinitely The seed are very
small, requiring only five to eight
pounds to seed an acre and less Is
used when mixed with grasses.
Questions and Answers
@. Would -- lawn grass sowa
this month produce a good permanent
lawn here in Birmingham? Mrs.
". 7. $.
A. The lawn grass mixtures ad-
vertised b. northern and eastern
seed houses are not suitable for this
climate and do cause a lot of fail
ures every year. See formula mailed
you.
Q. After seeing the wonderful
meadows in Texas and Kansas made
with meadow fescue grass. I want
to try this grass in Alabama. 30
you think 1t would do here? When
should it be sown and how much
seed should be used to the acre?
5. j., Tuscaloosa.
A. l am sure this grass would
not disappoint you. October would
be about the correct time to SOW or
a little later If too hot and dry
The grass Is perennial and prac-
tically evergreen the year around
and even produces a satisfactory
lawn in the south where Kentucky
blue grass Is failure.
@. I thrashed a fine crop OF app,cr
oats sown last spring that made an
abundance of straw but the grain is
not as heavy as what I sowed. How
do you account for this? w. NJ.
Pinson.
A. Appler oats to produce heavy
grain must be sown in the fall. On