The value of sweet clover

Contents

Chapter . Page

Introduction 5

1. History of the Plant 7

Chapter I HISTORY OF PLANT

Generally when speaking of Sweet Clover (Melilotus Alba), we have in mind the White Blossom variety, although there are four distinct species, which will be taken up later and each discussed. However, the White Blossom is considered for most purposes the most valuable, and when no qualifying term is used the white species is the one usually meant. The writer would ask that you bear this explanation in mind, as this understanding of the term is used in the following pages of this treatise.

This plant is known by a number of different names. The most common are Bokhara or Melilotus, which means honey lotus or honey plant. It is also called Bee Clover, Honey Lotus, Tree Clover and Giant Alfalfa.

While Sweet Clover is one of the oldest of the leguminous plants and from a careful study of the plant might be considered the most valuable, it is strange that not until recent years was its true worth discovered. The plant is a native of central Asia and has grown on the desert lands and mountain sides for over 2,000 years, growing luxuriantly, not being affected by the severe winters, nor by the extreme heat and drouth in summer. From there it spread to Europe, where for a number of years it has been cultivated to some extent for hay, pasture and as a fertilizer. It was also used somewhat in ancient times for medicines, and in some instances this practice still exists to the present time.

The White Blossom Sweet Clover was first introduced in the United States in the early part of the eighteenth century by the colonists from Europe, but then little did they think that this honey plant, as it was called, would be the sensation of the twentieth century, so far as adding wealth to the agricultural industry is concerned.

Sweet Clover had always been considered a great honey plant and was utilized more in this respect than any other, although it was known to be of some value as a forage crop and fertilizer. It is now distributed more or less over the entire civilized world, and is sure to become the most popular plant of modern times. Its great value as a forage crop and fertilizer is being preached by all agricultural writers, and it has been greatly exploited by the best farm papers. Every up-to-date farmer has heard of, read or knows from observation something about Sweet Clover.

To those who are not acquainted with Sweet Clover it might seem that the value of the plant may be overestimated and that it is a fad or hobby which will pass by. It is not astounding that the true value of Sweet Clover was not discovered until the twentieth century, for this is the age when progress and inventions are being made in all lines. It would be a sad lot, indeed, for the tiller of the soil if no progress were made to aid him in the way of securing new crops or discovering further uses and values of different plants.

What has always seemed very strange to the writer is that the King road drag was not discovered sooner, for it certainly is a simple device and undoubtedly excells all machinery when it comes to making a fine dirt highway. As in all lines there is much wealth and latent power awaiting development; so it is true in the agricultural pursuit that there is undoubtedly great wealth hidden and lying dormant in the soil. In all probability we shall from time to time learn some of the new things in plant life that will not only be a big surprise to us, but will add greatly to our already large number of paying crops. When one is seeking a fortune it is always well to look near at home, for often the hidden treasure is right at hand and only requires some one to bring it to light.

If you would speak of Sweet Clover as a weed you would cause no sensation, for it has been considered as such, and you will find it growing luxuriantly along the highways, railroad right-of-ways and many times in deep cuts where there is nothing but the yellow clay, in which it makes an unusual growth. It also makes a great growth along the irrigating ditches, and in this way has been spread rapidly ; also by bee-keepers who have sowed it in various waste places.

There is no reason why Sweet Clover should ever have been classed as a weed, except that it is a prolific grower and is easily started, defies drouth and grows on nearly al kinds of soil. On account of its adaptability and persistency in growing it was classed as a weed by those who did not know of its commercial value; but this is the only characteristic of a weed that the plant possesses. And the very fact that it is so unusually hardy makes it all the more valuable as a forage plant, for no one need fail in growing it. The plant is a biennial and is not hard to eradicate and never becomes a pest, as it can be easily killed out by cultivation.

The utilization of Sweet Clover should be accompanied by a thorough understanding of its various characteristics, which are essential to know, in order to insure success with the crop and also prevent any ill-effects which might result from growing it in ignorance.

Its value as a honey plant is quite generally understood, but this is the least important. Its great value as a fertilizer has not been fully understood, and it is going to bring an abundance of wealth to this country by increasing the fertility of run-down soils and reclaiming old, worn-out farms. It has been utilized for hay and pasture in a very limited way, for it has been treated as a weed, and possibly by mental telepathy the thought passed from the farmers' minds to the stock, as they also seem to have looked upon it as being unfit for food and refused to eat it when they have had access to other pasture. The reason stock refuse to eat it at first is due to a bitter taste and odor, but when once induced to eat it they apparently relish it and become very fond of it and prefer it to other forage. It has great feeding value, ranking right alongside of Alfalfa. In some respects it excels Alfalfa, its only rival, as a forage crop.

There is certainly a large field for Sweet Clover to fill, and it cannot help but be of great value to every farm and farmer, for there is not only a great need of a fertihzer in the south and east on the old worn-out farms, but there is also a great need throughout the entire corn belt. The plant does not only add wealth in the corn belt by supplying nitrogen and humus to the soil, but its greatest addition is its feed value. We have our great corn plant, rich in carbon hydrates, fat-producing element, but short on proteinbone, muscle and milk producing food. By combining Sweet Clover with corn we have one of the greatest feeding combinations known, and every stock raiser or dairyman will hail with delight the one thing for which he has been constantly searching. Every feeder and dairyman has been short in protein, and it has been expensive to obtain it by purchasing such feeds as bran, shorts, oil meal, clover and alfalfa hay.

The value of Sweet Clover as a protein feed will be better appreciated when you realize that a ton of it is equal to a ton of bran in food value, and it is claimed by some that in this respect it even excels Alfalfa.

It has several decided advantages over Alfalfa, which might be briefly mentioned at this time. First, and one of great importance, is that it is easily started, and this one fact recommends it to many farmers who have been unsuccessful in growing Alfalfa. It is also true that it is adapted to a wider range of soil and will thrive under conditions that Alfalf awould not. And, again, it withstands great drouth and does not winter kill. It will also produce more forage and is considered by the best authorities a better fertilizer. This does not mean that Alfalfa is not all that is claimed for it, but it now has a rival which bids fair to excel it in many ways, and it is to the interest of everyone to study both plants and know which one is best adapted to his specific requirements and decide which he ought to grow.

Chapter II DIFFERENT SPECIES

There are three distinct varieties of Sweet Clover which are quite common in this country. In fact, four varieties are known to us, and in the old world there are still other varieties, but of little prominence. It will be well to take each variety up separately, in the order of their value, and give a short description, so that our readers may be familiar with their respective merits.

First. White Blossom Sweet Clover (Melilotus Alba), is the most common and is the variety commonly referred to when merely speaking of Sweet Clover. Nearly everyone has seen this variety growing, for it is the one commonly seen along the highways, railroad right-of-ways and various out-of-theway places, and when once started it grows very luxuriantly, if unmolested. It is a biennial (two-year plant), growing from a tap root and sends up an erect branching plant, with ascending stem^ not heavily covered with leaves. The first season, when sowed in the spring, it makes a growth twenty to thirty inches in height and reserves a large supply of food material in the root for a rapid and vigorous growth the second year.

Plants when young greatly resemble Alfalfa, but need never be confused with it, for it can be readily distinguished by the bitter taste and odor of its foliage. The bitter taste it possesses is due to cumarin, but this is a decided advantage, as it prevents bloating when used for pasture.

When in bloom it is a very attractive plant, growing from five to ten feet high, and is generally covered with bees. The flowers are white, blooming in long, loose racemes, and a single seed is borne in a rectangular pod. After the seed is produced the plant dies.

In harmony with other legumes, it stores up nitrogen in the nodules of its roots, and this is the important element in adding fertility to the soil on which it is grown.

The seed very closely resembles Alfalfa seed, and cannot be easily distinguished, except by the odor which is common to Sweet Clover. Alfalfa is being used as an adulterant for Sweet Clover in some instances.

Second. Large Yellow Blossom Sweet Clover (Melilotus Officinalis), is very similar to the White Blossom, just described, but is not so common. Like the White Blossom Sweet Clover, it is a biennial, but does not grow as high, attaining from three to five feet in height. It is more spreading in habit and grows closer to the ground, making it often difficult to mow. This is an objectionable feature, for it leaves branches which produce seed, making it more difficult to eradicate unless cultivated. It blooms about ten days earlier than the White Blossom and grows a finer stem, and is preferred in some localities for hay on account of not growing so rank. The seed is very similar to the White Blossom, and it is difficult to distinguish them.

Third. Small Yellow Blossom Sweet Qover (Melilotus Indica). This species is a low-growing erect plant, blossoming very early in the season. This plant is supposed to have originally come from India. It is an annual, while the two preceding species are

IS biennials, and are far more important. This plant is only grown in a limited way in the United States, flourishing mostly in southern California, where it is considered of value, but is not recommended for sections where the other varieties can be grown advantageously.

It is a legume, the same as the other varieties, but is not recommended, for it contains more cumarin, making it very bitter and less palatable for stock of all kinds.

However, it is very essential that you become familiar with this variety, and on this account one should know the difference. Several seed dealers have been imposed upon during the past few years, for the annual has been substitutd for the large yellow blossom, which is a biennial, and is not to be compared with the annual in any way. The seed of the small annual Yellow Blossom species has a rough surface, while the large biennial are smooth. The Seed Laboratory of the Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C, is prepared to identify samples. Anyone who wishes the Large Yellow Blossom variety should be particular about purchasing their seed from a reliable party, who knows what is being offered.

Fourth. Blue Blossom Sweet Clover, There is a variety that has a blue blossom, but it is not common in the United States and is not generally considered. It is supposed to be a native of Africa and is very similar to the Large Yellow and White Blossom varieties, being a biennial and in general appearance resembles them, except the color or blossom. It grows to a height of three to five feet, and is an erect branching plant, easily eradicated by cultivation.

Chapter III WHERE IT WILL GROW

It has been generally stated that Sweet Clover is being grown in all civilized countries, which is true, and it is also being grown in all parts of the United States. It possesses a wider adaptability as to soil and climate than any of the other leguminous plants, growing successfully in the sub-tropical climates and also enduring the wide range of temperature to which it is subjected throughout the Northern States and Canada. Sweet Clover thrives in the most humid sections, and will withstand a great amount of moisture and very unfavorable conditions, such as overflow, and in this respect is about equal to Alsike; it also thrives in the semi-arid regions, where the rainfall is very limited and not over half of what is required to produce a Clover crop. On the "acid" soils which are found in the Eastern States it grows very satisfactorily, and when planted on such soil it has a tendency to counteract the acidity and put the soil into shape for growing other plants which would not thrive before. We also find it growing on the alkali soil of the Western States, where alkali would prevent raising other farm crops. It grows on very thin, sandy soil, and on the gravelly hills which are too poor to produce any other crop advantageously, and you also find it growing in the limestone quarries. It thrives exceedingly well on the limestone hills in the East, which will not produce other crops. You will find it making a luxuriant growth on the clay banks of deep cuts and has also been noticed growing on blue clay taken from the bottom of a well. In fact, it will grow on all kinds of soil, with the exception of low, wet ground which is water logged, but even in this respect it grows on very wet land, and has a tendency to relieve the boggy condition. It makes a splendid growth on the rich black loam, and also on the black gumbo commonly found on bottom land. The only other exception is soil which has been completely depleted of lime. Sweet Clover requires lime in the soil, and this mineral has been well provided by nature and nearly all soil contains sufficient lime to insure growing it successfully. It is a great drouth resisting plant, and this undoubtedly is due to the fact that it sends out a long tap root, making a great root growth the first season, and stands the long, hot, dry summers of the Southern States better than Japan Qover or any of the other forage crops. It also withstands the hot, dry summers of the western plains, remining green and making a splendid growth, despite the hot, dry weather which is so disastrous to all kinds of plant life.

Sweet Clover is a wonderful plant, growing in so many different climates and conditions, and we wish to give what the Farmers' Bulletin, No. 485, of the Department of Agriculture, has to say on this point: "It thrives in the most humid parts of the country, as well as in the semi-arid sections, where the rainfall is but three-fifths of that required for the normal growth of such crops as Timothy and Red Clover. It produces satisfactory crops on the "acid" soils of the Eastern States and also on the alkali soils of the West, where sufficient alkali is present to prevent the growth of most farm crops. It will grow on soils too sandy to support ordinary field crops, and appears to be even better adapted to raw clay and loose cuts and fills, where scarcely any other vegetation is able to establish a foothold. It also makes an excellent growth in gravel pits and stone quarries, but for some reason does not seem to do well on unsettled, cultivated soil. It makes its best growth where the soil is compact and not crowded with other vegetation. In such states as Iowa it seems to require a rich soil for satisfactory growth, but on the limestone hills of the Eastern and Southern States it makes a good growth on soils too poor to produce a paying crop of com."

From all reports received from the best authority it would seem that Sweet Clover has a wider range of adaptability not only in latitude and soil, growing in the extreme North, to the extreme South, but also possesses great endurance and thrives jvithout rainfall and not only withstands moisture ^nd defies drouth, but has the same endurance when it comes to heat or cold. The fact that Sweet Clover is adapted to such a wide range of soil and conditions recommends it as one of the most important of the leguminous forage crops and makes it a valuable plant on account of not being able to grow other crops where it thrives.

Sweet Clover is being grown quite extensively as a field crop in Alabama, Mississippi and Kentucky, and is proving equal to its reputation as laid down by scientific agricultural writers, and is bringing an abundance of wealth in the way of renewing the depleted fields which have been farmed to death. You will also find Sweet Clover growing in Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Wisconsin, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Dakotas, New York, and, in fact, nearly every state in the Union is growing Sweet Clover to some extent. The demand is rapidly increasing and every up-to-date, wide-awake farmer is interested in the plant and is making investigation as to its merits, and in many cases is testing it out in a small way. It is really amazing to note what interest has been manifested, and consequently there has been an unusual demand for seed. Last year the demand exceeded the supply and many were unable to obtain seed, while others who were so anxious to give it a trial secured Yellow Blossom instead of the White, for it seemed more plentiful, but much the Yellow Blossom Sweet Clover offered was the annual, and in such cases Sweet Clover undoubtedly got a setback, for the annual is not to be compared with the White, and it is essential that the correct species be used if you desire success.

Chapter IV TIME OF SEEDING

This is a question which might have several answers and all be correct, for in different parts of the country a different time might be best suited. So it is with any given rule. There are exceptions, but going back to nature we find the seed is left on the ground in the fall, and it germinates for the most part in the spring, there being an occasional plant started in the fall. Spring seeding, generally speaking, has given excellent results and is considered the correct time for sowing.

The best time in the spring for sowing depends somewhat upon how the crop is to be handled and whether it is to be sowed with or without a nurse crop. When using a nurse crop it should be sowed early in the spring at the time that Oats and Barley are sown, and the earliest varieties of small grain makes the best nurse crop. One of the greatest mistakes in seeding grass seed of all kinds with a nurse crop is using too much seed and trying to raise a full crop of grain. The grain should be considered as a secondary crop and the grass seeding, no matter of what kind, should be considered first, for it is the most important. It is mere folly to smother out your seeding of Clover, Alfalfa or Sweet Clover by sowing three or four bushels of Oats per acre, endeavoring to raise a bumper crop of Oats, as well as securing a stand of grass. The talented editor of Wallace's

Farmer, Uncle Henry Wallace, in making a short talk in regard to the methods of seeding, stated that this was the greatest cause of not obtaining a stand and that in his long experience of seeding, when a proper amount of grain seed had been used, he only knew of two or possibly three failures, these being due to the extreme dry season.

Now, when using Oats as a nurse crop, it is best to select the earliest varieties and sow not over one and one-half bushels per acre. One reason for recommending an extremely early variety of Oats when sowing Sweet Clover, is on account of Sweet Clover being a very rapid grower and by harvest time it will be up ten or twelve inches, and will gather in the butts of the bundle, unless the stubble is left quite high to avoid it.

Sweet Clover is also sowed in the spring, without a nurse crop, by preparing the soil and sowing in the same manner as Alfalfa or Common Clover. There is no particular advantage in sowing without a nurse crop, for the plant will make about as much growth with a nurse crop and except in the South you cannot secure more than one crop the first season. The plant will continue to grow throughout the entire season and can be pastured in the fall, or a hay crop may be cut the latter part of September or the first part of October. By using a nurse crop you can accomplish practically the same results, besides harvesting a fair crop of small grain, but always remember not to become too greedy and sow too much small grain, for the main crop might be lost by doing so.

Fall seeding is desirable in some section, but for the most part the writer does not recommend it, for it has some disadvantages, and throughout the corn belt spring seeding undoubtedly will prove far more satisfactory. When seeding in the fall the seed should be sown the latter part of August or the first of September on ground that has been well prepared and a good seed bed obtained. Sweet Clover when seeded in the fall does not make enough root development to start off properly in the spring and the growth of the plant is reduced somewhat. This disadvantage will prevent fall seeding being very popular, and, again, it is not best to cut a hay crop late in the following fall, although it may be pastured lightly, but not close to the ground. In the Southern States fall seeding is more popular than in the North, but in the corn belt and Eastern States spring seeding is preferable.

Chapter-V

PREPARATION AND AMOUNT TO SOW

Those who are familiar with growing Alfalfa should not have much trouble in starting Sweet Clover if they remember that the plants are very similar. The main thing is a well prepared seed bed which is firm and solid (and there is little danger of getting the ground too firm or solid), for the firmer the better stand will be secured. All the loose soil required is enough to enable you to thoroughly cover the seed. Sweet Clover has failed quite frequently when sown on a cultivated field, and failure was due in all probability to not having a compact seed bed. The fact that it requires a solid seed bed is further demonstrated by its growing successfully on hillsides where nearly all the soil has been washed away and on the roadsides where the ground has been tramped and is very solid. It is very essential that a solid seed bed be prepared, but good results have been obtained by seeding in the same manner as Common Clover. It sometimes is sowed in Winter Wheat early in the spring without any further preparation and a good stand is obtained.

Sweet Clover does well following a corn crop when sowed in the spring, and works in to good advantage for rotation. The ground can be properly prepared by disking and harrowing, and by either seeding broadcast or by drilling fifteen to twenty pounds of seed, or ten pounds to twelve pounds of scarified seed, to the acre, there should be no trouble in obtaining a stand. It may also be sowed with a nurse crop without any further preparation than what you give to seeding of the small grain. If you use a drill in sowing your small grain and it has a seed attachment you could drill in the Sweet Clover, although fully as good results may be obtained by sowing broadcast. Land which has been fall plowed would not be so desirable for spring seeding as stock land, for the soil would not be solid enough to insure success.

For the best results Clover sod no doubt would prove the most successful. By fall plowing Clover sod and disking the same as preparing for a corn crop and getting the ground in good condition for early seeding there is no reason why a very heavy crop of Sweet Clover could not be grown. On such land it might be well to sow without a nurse crop if you were very desirous of getting all you could out of the Sweet Clover crop, for it will make a little faster and heavier growth when sowed alone and by fall you would get quite a heavy hay crop.

The preparation of the seed bed for fall seeding is more difficult than spring seeding and should be handled in about the same way as Alfalfa. It would require plowing several months before seeding and much surface cultivation, forming a compact seed bed with a mulch on top to cover the seed. If you wish to seed Sweet Clover in the fall following a small grain crop it is difficult to get the grain off in time so as to plow and work down a solid seed bed, and in such cases better results may be obtained by simply disking the stubble and getting enough loose soil to properly cover the seed. It is not practical to plow the ground early in the season and work it until the first of August, in order to sow Sweet Clover ; nor is it necessar>% for spring seeding would be more desirable, and there is very little to be gained by waiting until fall, and if it is possible to sow in the spring it should be done at that time.

The amount of seed required for an acre varies according to what is desired from the crop ; also upon the germination test of the seed. One recognized authority in Sweet Clover says : "The amount of seed required per acre depends whether sown for hay, pasture, green manure, or for restoring worn or waste lands. On account of it stooling out so heavily, a medium stand the first year will become a thick stand the second, when it comes from the roots, and a heavy stand for the first year will be entirely too thick the second year to obtain a normal growth and development of the plant. For hay a bushel will sow three acres; for green manure a bushel will sow tw^o acres, if to be plowed under the first year and three acres if to be plowed under after the second year's growth."

In testing Sweet Clover it is ofttimes found that there is a large per cent of hard seed which w^ill not germinate until the second year, and sometimes not until the third season. Southern seed is found to contain a larger per cent of hard seed than any other, and the imported seed the smallest per cent. This may be partly due to most foreign seed being one year old or due to other conditions. Ten pounds of seed would be a great sufficiency for one acre if it would all grow. It is necessary to count on part of it not germinating, at least the first season, and fifteen to twenty pounds of hulled seed is found to be about the correct amount, although some writers recommend as much as twenty to thirty pounds to the acre. Ground which is adapted to growing Sweet Clover, or which is thoroughly inoculated undoubtedly would require less seed if unhulled seed is used is required about five pounds more seed per acre. The experience of the writer has been that hulled seed gives the best results and it is more desirable.

The complaint of seed not germinating properly is a point which is fully covered by the Farmers' Bulletin and a remedy given which is of great interest and is herewith given in full: "A lesser weight of seed would be sufficient were it not for the fact that often one-half of the seed has such hard seed coats that it does not germinate the first season and therefore is practically useless. This retarded germination of the hard seed can be overcome by soaking the seed in commercial concentrated sulphuric acid for half an hour. It should then be quickly washed, using running water, if possible, as sulphuric acid becomes very hot when mixed with a small proportion of water. A great deal of water is therefore necessary in order to lessen the danger of burning. The seed should then be dried off quickly by spreading it out on a floor or canvas and stirring at intervals."