Warren sheaf., 1922-03-01
VALUABLE POINTERS: ON
GROWING SWEET CLOVER.
Seeding, Growing and Handling the
Crop and its Utilization for For
age, and Green Manure ,-,...-

~ puDllShed III the Norman County
Index. Many farmers in Marshall
County are interested iii this crop and
we believe the informa ton will be of
value to them.
Sweet Glover is an important for
age crop in the North Central states.
1t is being cultivated in practically
every state Of the Union, and the acre
age is being increased rapidly
The White species comprises very
large percentage of the present acres
age of sweet clover.
It is relished by cattle, sheep and
hogs, and they do exceptionally well
on it.
There is little danger of bloating
cattle or sheep Oh it as is true of the
other clover and alfalfa.
1t provides the earliest pasture in
spring, the latest in fall, and an abun-
dance of feed throughout the summer.
Winter-killing is practically un-
know.
Sweet clover is dapted to a wider
range Of climatic conditions than any
Of the true clovers, and possibly al
falfa.
Sweet clover will grow on practic-
ally all soil types found in the North
west.
Sweet clover is more drought resist
ant than alfalfa or red clover. 1t
grows luxuriantly on alkali ground.
In the Northern states the. best re-
suits are usually obtained by seeding
with nurse crop.
1t dies after the second season. 1t
grows only from seed, not frol roots
or underground stems. H. IS not a
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 in
creased.
When soil and weather conditions
are favorable for termination, sweet
clover seedlings will lappear a week or
ten days after seeding. On account
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 es-
tablished 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 plant usually makes a growth
OF II to "a inches the first season.
They make an early and vigorous
growth the second spring, growing
anywhere from to 10 feet in height,
m ~ hrn nh
growth. The Towering season begins
about the last week in June, and lasts
from three to five weeks. The flowers
are borne on long, loose racemes, and
are very fragrant, being excellent for
honey production.
Cultivation
Sweet clover does best on fairly
firm seed bed, with enough loose soil
over the top to cover, the seed well.
The ground may be prepared as for
wheat. Throughout the Northwest 1T
does best when seeded with nurse
crop, which may be any Of the small
grains. Is The custom is to seed in the
spring, although good results have
been obtained from summer or early
fall seeding, when weather conditions
were fayorable.
1t is advisable to SOW only seed
that has been tested for termination
and purity, as there is wide varia-
tion in different seed. A large per-
centage, sometimes as high as 90 per
cent Of the seeds have very hard
coat, being almost impervious to wa
ter, therefore they will lay in the
ground for weeks and sometimes for
a whole year before they will ger
inmate. For this reason it is desir-
able 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 de-
pends upon a number of conditions,
chief Of which is the termination
Eighty per cent or better is consid-
cred good test for sweet clover seed,
inmates, 10 to IL pounds per acre will
give good stand. If the crop is i'll
tended chiefly for hay and pasture,
more than this may be sown .(about
20 pounds is. .suggested) as a thicker
stand will result in finer grade of
forage. ..<s t.5*.... w..
The method OF seeding is practically
the same as with red clover or al
falfa: The seed may be mixed and
sown directly with the grain with
good results, but tits preferable to
use grass seed attachment. Another
method which gives good results is to
use a broadcast seeder, and follow
with harrow.
Pasture
AS sweet clover makes a consider
able growth the first season, it may
be pastured to certain extent the
first fall. 1t is not advisable to pas!
ture it down too closely, however, al.
tho it rarely ever winter-kills.
The second spring it may be pas:
tured as soon as growth commences
After it is we'll started it will require
a considerable number of stock tC
keep it down as growth is very rapid
As a usual thing the sweet clover will
not be pastured of uniformly, so that
a considerable number Of stems con.
tinue growing, which will soon pro
duce flowers. To allow such plants
a e,rrs5