The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1924-06-12
SWEET CLOVER AS
A FORAGE CROP

~ WEET CLOVER is finding al
~ important place in the farminl
system of Montana as a pasture
crop, according to Clyde Mckee
agronomist at Montana State College
A recent survey showed that 1858 pei
cent of a large number of farmers in
terviewed used sweet clover for pas
ture, 35.9 per cent used it for hay
1913 per cent used it to improve the
soil, 9.5 per cent for producing seed,
and 1.3 per cent for bees.
Discussing sweet clover from the
standpoint of pasture, Mr.. Mckee
states that "under dry and condi-
tions no other leguminous crop will
furnish so much nutritious pasturage
from early spring until fall as will
sweet clover when properly handled.
Reports indicate that it is not un-
reasonable to expect dry land sweet
clover pastures to carry from one to
two head of cattle an acre the second
year, and several men stated that the
pastures could have carried more
stock. The crop produces so much
feed because it begins growth earlier
in the spring than many forage
plants and thrives during the dry
summer months.
"Live stock may refuse to eat the
sweet clover at first but cases are
known where stock have preferred
the crop to other forage plants.
There is present in all parts of the
sweet clover plant a bitter substance
called cumarin. Early in the spring
the plant contains very little of this,
but as the season advances the GU
marin content of the plant increases
and the bitter taste becomes much
more Objectionable. Therefore, it is
important to begin p~asturing sweet
clover early in the spring as the bit
ter taste is much less noticeable and
animals usually eat the crop more
readily. Montana growers have pas
tured sweet clover with all classes of
live stock and over 80 per cent of
those reporting state that they have
had no difficulty in getting animals
to eat it.
"Pasturing sweet clover during
the first year is not uncommon in
Montana. The first years growth is
not coarse or woody and the quality
compares favorably with that of good
pasture. If the crop is sown
early on a well-prepared seed bed, it
will make a vigorous growth and oc-
casionally provides considerable pas
turage during the latter part of the
5eason However, on the average
dry land farm it is not wise to de-
pend on pasturing sweet clover dur-l :
ing the first year. Close grazing :
should be avoided during the first =
summer or the plants may be killed. :,
In the fall, however, after the plants .
lave become we'll established, the z
crop may be grazed rather closely =
with little or no danger of injury. =
to the low set crown it does e
not appear so necessary to provide :
covering for sweet clover as
IS the case with red clover Of alfalfa.
AS a rule, however, the crop will start Il
in the second spring and the 2
will be more vigorous if it is p
not pastured or clipped too closely in a
he fall of the first year. G
During the spring of the second d
rear sweet clover pasture will fur
fish an abundance of forage if prop 81
,rly managed. Pasturing may begin W
is soon as the plants start growth in ST
he spring. In fact, if sweet clover II
pastures are to be kept in the best Of
condition, pasturing must begin p'
,arly and enough stock must be used pl
keep the crop grazed closely. If h
he growth becomes too rank, it is
.dvisable to clip the crop to bring
tut new shoots. When clipping is B
escorted to, the cutter bar of the eli
should be raised high enough ST
o avoid killing the plants. A few al
rowers have been successful. in US fir
ng biennial yellow sweet clover as fe
n~ermanent DaSture. This variety h,
itself readily because of it's is
preading habit of growth. Many
rowers prefer the biennial yellow
the stems and leaves are =.
~ til