(Flower and Seed Stems)
North Carolina Experiment Station
This plant grows only in warm weather, and it is able to withstand much drought. Its value for pasture and hay would seem to depend considerably on the stage of growth at which it is grazed or harvested for hay. When nearing maturity, stock do not relish it much, either as pasture or hay. It is frequently classed as a weed, but in certain poor soils it has been deemed worthy of cultivation.
Beggar weed is native to the West India Islands and also, it is thought, to Southern Florida. In 1879 seeds were distributed by the Department of Agriculture. It is now grown more or less in the wild or cultivated form in all the Gulf States. While it may be successfully grown as far north as the Ohio River, it is not probable that it will be sown far north of any of the Gulf States, since other fodder plants more valuable in producing food can be grown to supply the wants of live stock. At the Minnesota University Experiment Farm, the author sowed seed in May. The plants came into bloom in September, but did not mature any seed.
Beggar weed will grow on almost any kind of soil reasonably free from an excess of ground moisture. Its power to grow on poor and light soils, even light enough to lift with the wind, is very considerable. Its highest use will probably be found on soils so light and sterile that better forms of useful vegetation are not easily grown on them.
It can scarcely be called a rotation plant, since it more commonly grows in the wild form, and on lands so poor as to be considered unprofitable for regular cropping. But when cultivated, it should be followed by some crop that can make a good use of the nitrogen left in the soil in the tubercles formed on the roots of the beggar weed plants.
The soil does not, as a rule, require deep stirring when preparing it for beggar weed. This fact finds demonstration in the ability of the plants to re-seed the ground when grown for grazing.
The seed is usually sown in the Gulf States late in March or early in April. It germinates slowly, and the plants make the most vigorous growth after the weather becomes warm. The seed is more commonly scattered broadcast, but may be drilled in, and at distances that will or will not admit of cultivation as may be desired. Thick seeding is preferable to prevent coarseness and woodiness in the growth of the plants. Not less than 10 pounds of hulled seed per acre should be sown in the broadcast form when sown for hay. When sown in drills, less seed is required, but usually the seed is sown broadcast. In the hulled form, in which the seed is more commonly sold, according to Professor H. H. Hume, the measured bushel weighs 60 to 64 pounds, and with the hulls on, from 10 to 40 pounds, the average weight, as purchased by dealers, being about 20 pounds. The cleaned seed bears considerable resemblance to clover seed.
All kinds of farm stock, as cattle, horses, mules, sheep and even swine, are said to do well when grazing on beggar-weed pastures in the summer and autumn. They do not usually graze it closely after it has been well started, owing to the woody character of the stems. When thus cropped back, it starts out afresh, and thus continues to produce grazing until the arrival of frost. It is said that the pasture is of but little value in winter. One strong point, however, in favor of such pastures, is the ability of the plants to re-seed the land when not grazed too closely, and thus to perpetuate the grazing from year to year.
No little diversity of opinion exists as to the value of this plant for producing hay. Some growers speak highly of its palatability and nutrition. Others speak of it as being of very little value as a hay plant. This difference in opinion is doubtless due largely to cutting the crop at different stages of growth. If allowed to become too advanced before it is cut, the woody character of the hay would doubtless make it unpalatable, whereas, if cut early, at least as early as the showing of the first blooms, if not, indeed, earlier, it would be eaten with a much greater relish. The yields of hay are said to usually exceed 2 tons per acre.
The seed matures in September and October. The methods of saving the seed have usually been of a somewhat primitive character, as by hand when saved in small quantities. But there would seem to be no reason why the seed crop could not be harvested by the binder.
Where alfalfa or cow peas can be successfully grown, either crop would be preferable. But on some soils these are not a success, especially when the first attempts are made to grow crops. The choice of hay may be one between a crop of beggar weed and no crop at all. All are agreed as to the renovation which it brings to soils; hence, when grown or allowed to grow on unproductive soil for a few years and then plowed under, the soil becomes productive. Since it grows late rather than early in the season where the seed is in the land, it will not interfere with the growth of the corn, but will come on later, and thus exert a beneficial influence on the soil. But the fact should not be overlooked that beggar weed once in the land has considerable power to stay there. In other words, like sweet clover, it has some of the characteristics of a weed.
BUFFALO CLOVER
Buffalo clover (Trifolium stoloniferum) is a native species procumbent in its habit of growth. The leaves are most abundant at the base of the plants. The flower heads, about an inch in diameter, are rose colored, and rise to the height of about one foot from the ground.
This variety, said to be perennial in its habit of growth, is probably the same as Trifolium reflexum, said to be biennial in Kansas. Plants are found growing wild in prairies, between forests, and in open woodlands, from Kentucky on the east, to Kansas on the west. It is thought that this clover would repay cultivation, but the author has not been able to get any information bearing upon its behavior under cultivation.
SEASIDE CLOVER
Seaside clover (Trifolium invulneratum) has rendered some service to agriculture in what is known as the "Great Basin," which includes parts of Oregon and Nevada. In Bulletin No. 15, Bureau of Plant Industry, issued by the United States Department of Agriculture, it is referred to as one of the most promising species for cultivation in that area. Under the influence of irrigation it has spread, in one instance cited, into sage brush soil, and there, along with timothy and red top, has aided in producing fine crops. In, low, swampy, non-alkaline areas, it often yields from ½ to 1¼ tons of hay per acre. It has been estimated that with correct conditions it would be found about equal in producing power and feeding value to alsike clover. It is at least questionable, however, if it is likely to supersede to any considerable degree the varieties already under general cultivation.
INDEX
- Alfalfa
- Alsike clover
- Bloating 94
- Buffalo clover
- discussion of 344
- Burr clover
- Clover
- Clover, general principles for growing
- discussion of 6-56
- adaptation in 6
- place in the rotation 7
- preparing the soil 11
- fertilizers 13
- seasons for sowing 16
- methods of sowing 18
- depth to bury the seed 21
- sowing alone or in combinations 22
- with or without a nurse crop 25
- amounts of seed to sow 27
- pasturing 29
- harvesting 31
- storing 33
- feeding 35
- renewing 37
- as soil improvers 38
- as a weed destroyer 43
- clover sickness 45
- possible improvement in 46
- bacteria and clovers 47
- Clovers, synonyms
- Alexandrian 322
- Alsace 194
- Aspercet 317
- Berseem 322
- Beggar ticks 338
- Beggar weed 338
- Black Medic 329
- Black Nonesuch 329
- Bokhara 300
- Branching 114
- Broad-leaved 57
- Burgundy 114
- California 291
- Chilian 114
- Cocks head 317
- Cow clover 218
- Cow grass 218
- Creeping Trifolium 258
- Dutch 258
- Elegant 194
- Esparcette 317
- Fachl 323
- French clover 338
- French grass 317
- German 238
- German mammoth 238
- Giant beggar weed 338
- Giant 218
- Honeysuckle 258
- Hop 328
- Hop trefoil 329
- Hybrid 194
- Italian 238
- Large 218
- Lucerne (Alfalfa) 114
- Mammoth 57
- Meadow 218
- Meadow trefoil 57
- Medick vetchling 317
- Mexican 114
- Minnesota 118
- Monthly 114
- Muscowi 323
- Nonesuch 329
- Pea vine 218
- Perennial 114
- Perennial hybrid 194
- Perennial red 218
- Pod 194
- Red perennial meadow 118
- Rhenish 218
- Saida 323
- Sand Lucerne 118
- Saplin 218
- Shamrock 258
- Sicilian 114
- Soiling 218
- Spotted Medick 291
- Stem 114
- Swedish 194
- Styrian 114
- Tall 218
- Tickweed 338
- Tree 300
- Turkestan 118
- Wavy stemmed 218
- White Dutch 258
- White Melilot 300
- White Swedish 194
- White trefoil 258
- Winter 238
- Yellow 291
- Zigzag 218
- Crimson clover
- Dodder 190
- Egyptian clover
- discussion of 322-328
- Florida clover
- discussion of 338-344
- Grasshoppers 189
- Hoven 94
- Inoculation, soil 53
- Japan clover
- Mammoth clover
- Medium red clover
- Micro-organisms 48
- Nitragin 53
- Nodules in clover plants 49
- Root tubercles 50
- Sand Lucerne
- discussion of 333-337
- Sainfoin
- discussion of 316-322
- Seaside clover
- discussion of 345
- Sweet clover
- Tubercles, root 50
- Weeds troublesome 235
- White clover
- Yellow clover
- discussion of 328-332
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Transcriber's Notes:
List of Illustrations: The number '2' was missing before 'Medium Red'. Changed.
Page 53: The term 'nitragin' though an odd spelling and is capitalized elsewhere, as it is a commercial name. Unchanged.
Page 60: The term 'adap s' is a typo for 'adapts'. Changed.
Page 69: The term 'throgh cropping' is a typo for 'through cropping'. Changed.
Page 100: The phrase 'skilled workmen' is a typo for 'skilled workman'. Changed.
Page 103: The term 'pollenization' may be a substitute for 'pollenation' or 'pollination'. Unchanged.
Page 122: The term 'Sask' is apparently a substitute or abbreviation here for the province of 'Saskatchewan'.
Page 124: The phrase 'western alleys' is a typo for western valleys. Changed.
Page 124: The phrase 'largely de-depend' is a typo for 'largely depend'. Changed.
Page 189: The phrase 'many instance' is a typo for 'many instances'. Changed.
Page 197: The phrase 'with beekeepers' changed to 'with bee-keepers' to be consistent with two other occurrences.
Page 229: The term 'Seee page 78' is a typo for 'See page 78'. Changed.
Page 309: The phrase 'ground through self-feeding' is a typo for 'ground through self-seeding'. Changed.
Page 317: The term 'Asperset' is spelled 'Aspercet' in the index. Unchanged. Couldn't determine correct spelling.
Page 326: The phrase 'it it clearly a catch crop' is a typo for 'it is clearly a catch crop'. Changed.
Index Page 349: Although the term 'Sanfoin' is an acceptable alternate spelling for 'Sainfoin', it doesn't match other occurrences in this text. Changed.
Several instances of comma and periods either missing or interchanged in original text have been fixed without listing each. They are obvious errors.
Various: The term 'midsummer' is also spelled 'mid-summer' in this book. Unchanged.
End of Transcriber's Notes.