The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1922-02-02
SWEET CLOVER-ITS CULTURE AND
VALUE IN NORTH CENTRAL STATES

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falfa.
Sweet clover will grow on prac
tically all soil types found in the
Northwest.
Sweet clover is more drouth re-
sistant than alfalfa or red clover
1t grows luxuriantly on alkali ground
In the northern states the best re
suits are usually obtained by seed
ing with a nurse cop.
1t dies after the second season. II
grows only from seed, not from roots
or underground stems. It is not q
weed, as some seem to think. 1t can
be killed out at will.
Only seeds which have been tested
for termination and purity should
be sown, unless the rate of seeding
is increased.
Growth
When soil and weather conditions
are favorable for termination, sweet
clover seedlings will appear a week
or ten days after seeding. On &C
count of the biennial nature of the
plants they do not seem to make
much growth the first month or six
weeks after termination, but during
this time they are developing root
systems very rapidly, thus becoming
well established so as to withstand
adverse weather conditions. Plants
that have made no more than two
inches of top growth often have root
systems six inches or more in length.
The plants usually make a growth
of IL to "a inches the first season.
They make an early and vigorous
growth the second spring, growing
anywhere from five to ten feet in
height, and making an erect branch
ing growth. The Towering season
begins about the last week in June
and yasts from three to five weeks.
The flowers are borne on long, loose
racemes, and are very fragrant, be-
ing excellent for honey production.
Cultivation
Sweet clover does best on a fairly
firm seed bed, with enough loose soil
over the top to cover the seed well.
The ground may b eprepared as for
wheat. Throughout the Northwest it
does best when seeded with a nurse
crop, which may be any of the small
grains. The custom is to seed in the
spring, although good results have
been obtained from summer or early
fall seeding, when weather conditions
were favorable.
1t is advisable to SOW only seed
that has been tested for termination
and purity, as there is a wide varl-
alton in different seed. A large per-
centage, sometimes as high as 80 per
cent of the seeds have a very hard
coat, being almost i~mpervious to
water, therefore they will lay in the
ground for weeks and sometimes for
a whole year before they will germin-
ate. For this reason it is desirable
to SOW scarified seed if possible.
The scarifying process breaks the
hard coat and allows water to enter
and act on the seed germ.
The amount of seed to be sown
depends upon a number of conditions
chief of which is the termination.
Eighty per cent of better is con-
a good test for sweet clover
seed, and if this percentage of seed
terminates, 10 to IL pounds per acre
will give a good stand. If the crop
intended chiefly for hay and pas
ture, a little more than this may be
sown, as a thicker stand will result
n a finer grade of forage.
The method of seeding is practlc-
Ally the same as with red clover or
The seed may be mixed
md sown directly with the grain
With good results, but it is preferable
o use a grass seed attachment. An
,ther method which gives good re-
,ults is to use a broadcast seeder and
'ollow with a harrow.
Pasture
AS sweet clover makes a consider
bile growth the first season, it may
,e pastured to a certain extent the
irst fall. 1t is not advisable to pas
ure it down too closely, however,
Though it rarely We ~winter-kills.
The second spring it may be pas
ured as soon as growth commences.
it is we'll started it will require
considerable number of stock to
.eep it down as growth is rapid. AS
usual thing the sweet clover will
lot be pastured off uniformly, so
hat a considerable number of stems
ontinue growing, which will soon
reduce flowers. To allow such
lants to develop to the flower and
eed stage will prevent a possible
econd growth coming from the
lants. Therefore in order to secure
he plants should be clipped before
ne blossoms set on, This clipping
lay be cured for hay.
For hog pasture a mixture OF
'warf Essex rape and sweet clover
as been found to produce excellent
With cuoaf c1ovar aloua the