The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1922-05-04
Production of
Clover Seed in
Southern Idaho

paratively recent development in
southern Idaho. A remarkable In
crease in the production of this crop
has taken place WITHIN the past two
years. Glover seed is now being FRO
| drced in the Snake river VALLEY from
Washington county on the western
border of the state, to Teton county,
or practically the headwaters Of the
| Snake, on the eastern border, with a
range in elevation of from 1900 to
$500 feet.
The reputation of Idaho-grown
clover seed is based on its high color,
purity and vitality. Eastern seed
houses, the buyers Of most of the
I~daho-grown seed, use a large por-
ton of this highly colored seed to
blend with eastern and foreign
| grown seed to make it more readily
marketable. Purity and color de-
termine market values.
The growing habits Of the ~clovers,
their irrigation requirements, the
characteristics of the soil Of the
fields in which they are to be grown,
the kinds of crops previously grown
and troublesome weed pests are
factors which should be taken into
consideration in the selection of
fields for seed production.
Alsike and white clover are peren-
malls. Red clover is commonly called
a biennial but frequently lives for
three years.
The lay of the land should aid
greatly in determining what variety
Of clover should be planted. Low,
wet land or land subject to frequent
overflow should be planted to alsike
or white clover as these varieties re-
quire more water than red clover
and are better able to Withstand the
over-irrigation which ,lowAying
ground often receives. Higher
ground or at least ground with good
drainage should be selected for the
production Of red clover seed.
Wherever possible, land which has
been already highly improved by the
growth of an alfalfa or clover crop,
should be avoided in clover-seed pro-
duction. High fertility encourages a
strong vegetative growth which is
usually made at the expense of the
seed crop. New land or land which
has produced a crop of small grain,
beets or potatoes, is good land for
the seed field.
If noxious weeds, the seeds Of
which cannot be removed from the
clover seed crop, are known to be
present in fields otherwise suited to
the crop, planting should be delayed
until danger from such pests is
passed. Often, early spring fallow
with thoro cultivation will destroy
such weeds and planting OF the
clover seed crop a be done after
they have been destroyed. If weeds
having seeds of the size of tumbling
mustard seed are known to be pres
ent in the soil the larger seeded red
clover should be planted; II har-
vested with the clover seed, weed
seed Of that size can be removed
from 1t by the proper adjustment Of
screens on the cleaning machine. It
Is almost impossible to free a field
entirely from weeds. Seeds of many
weeds can be taken out Of the vari-
Gus clover seed crops by running
them over a good cleaning mill, but
every effort should be made to free
the seed fields Of n0xious weeds
either before planting or while the
crop is growing.
1t is not advisable to keep one
piece of land in clover for seed pro-
duction for q long term of years. To
maintain a well-balanced agriculture
in southern Idaho, clovers for seed
production should take their places
in rotation with other crops. Clovers,
because of their ability to add
humus and nitrogen to the soil are
invaluable in the production Of small
grains, potatoes and root crops
Moreover, clover fields gradually be-
come foul with weed pests regardless
of strenuous efforts to keep then
out. The markets demand pure seed
and that a best be insured by the