xt75tb0xqz93 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt75tb0xqz93/data/mets.xml   Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station.  journals kaes_circulars_004_517 English Lexington : The Service, 1913-1958. Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station Circular (Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station) n. 517 text Circular (Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station) n. 517  2014 true xt75tb0xqz93 section xt75tb0xqz93 . lxuigj, I-_.;— Yi'! E   ,0-V -j·jrl,>   ,3   -4   \’.` I , #.7). '  
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A I W` t L
Bv
E. N. Fergus
. Lawrence Henson
B. W. Fortenbery
Circulcir 5l7
Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture und Home Economics
College of Agriculture and Home Economics, University of Kentucky `
and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, cooperating
FRANK J. WELCH, Director
UNA;-5} Issued in furtherance of the Acts of May 8 and June 30, l9l4.

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3 C O N T E N T S
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Page . mi,
1 CULTURAL PRACTICES AND USES ..,.. . ..,,.... . .. .........4............. 3 1 UC
i “ 0
i THE SPEC\ES ~ {HW
Crimson Clover ..,.......... . ................ . ...4......................,........ 6 PICK
  Hop Clovers .......................,..............,.... , .......................,.... iO  
, Hairy \/etch ........4...........,...............,.................,........,........ i2 um
  Black Medic .....,......i......,.........................,.i..,..................,.. 14 W'
Bur Clovers ....,.....,.......,..................,............,..................... i6 Fm
mv
Button Clover .......................,...........................................,.. I6 · UI
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   F l
Annuol Wnnter Legumes {
 i Crimson Clover Hoir Vetch Ho Clover
I I I
‘ Button Clover ond Bur Clover
By E. N. Fergus, Lawrence Henson, B. W. Fortenbery
Winter legumes are annual plants of the legume family that
. complete their development during the fall, winter, and spring.
Though they sometimes make considerable growth during the
ge , fall, they rarely do more than become well established and make
3 . a good ground cover. During late winter, as the weather becomes
 W favorable for growth, they begin rapid development that is com-
6 · pleted by late spring or early summer.
Members of this Orou of legumes known to be of agricul-
]O O P O O
I2 ` tural value in Kentucky are crimson clover (Trifolium incar-
M . natum), low hop clover (Trifolium procumbens) , and hairy or
16 W winter vetch (Vicia villosa). Members of this group which may
6 have agricultural possibilities in Kentucky are black medic (rl[edi—
l cago Iizjmlina) , least hop clover (Trifolium dubium) , bur clov-
2 ers (Mcdicago sp.) , and button clover (rllcdicago orrbiculairis) .
Cultural Practices and Uses
In general, soil treatment and cultural practices are similar
p for the production of each of these crops.
Soil treatment
· While these legumes as a ¤rou are not exacting in their soil
· O D P O
requirements they respond profitably to soil treatments generally
throughout Kentucky. If the land has not been limed in the last
Sto 10 years, about 2 tons of ground limestone should be applied
_ P6? Here and worked into the soil a few weeks before seeding. I
APPl1Cations of phosphate and potash to the soil will be profitable
except where these elements are present in adequate amounts in _

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if 4
l
  y the available forms. Quick soil tests will be helpful in deciding wm
the actual amount to apply. Most counties have laboratories that sible,
i T make these tests under the supervision of the county agricultural y [O be
I agent- be in;
`i Preparation of seedbed lflch
e A good seedbed should be prepared for these legumes except €lO"€l
V for seedings in sods. The specially prepared seedbed should be [MOU
firm but have a loose surface. Sods should be disked enough to illff gl
provide a cover for the seeds. Heavy sods should be grazed first, SGH Cl
l or clipped and the material on top of the ground removed, else . [hall
l the seedlings will be smothered.  - Rates
p Method of seeding . SE
l The seed may be sown in any way that results in an even dis- imlh
l tribution and proper covering of the seed. A good job may be Mdel
done by broadcasting with a hand seeder and covering with a ixpgc
l cultipacker or harrow. However, the cultipacker seeder, or small · mdui
l seed drill or other satisfactory seeding implement, is recom-
, mended. Perhaps all seed sown broadcast with hand seeders
should be divided, half being sown in one direction and half in  
the other. \`ttt·h
Crimson clover, winter vetch, and button clover, though sown V  C
alone with excellent results, should generally be seeded with a 1 Bumm
small grain or perhaps Italian ryegrass. Other winter legumes in ‘$¤
Kentucky should be sown in a sod, or with a perennial grass SU
These various s1nall—grain-legume or grass-legume mixtures coll- Smm
trol erosion better than the legume alone, and they undoubtctll$' lm. Cu
are more winter—hardy, especially if seeded late. Nitrogen hxcd or Im
by the legume is more largely conserved if a small grain or grnS5 Mme
is grown with the legume. The mixture produces a better pHS· W
ture than either crop by itself. It appears, therefore, that winl€1` mlm
legumes should seldom be sown alone. [hc lc
Bur clover in the hull is best sown broadcast and disked OY Wwe,
harrowed into the soil. The smaller-seeded species need not l>€ cmu.
y harrowed in unless the seedbed is very fine. If the soil is dry, Tull mgm,
a cultipacker over the field before and after sowing. \-Vinter \‘€i<`ll ml`.
SllOlllCl be covered t0 a depth of 2 inches; therefore it should bf ig SEQ

 f
. 5 1
lng sown in a specially prepared seedbed, with a grain drill, if pos-
031 sible, rather than broadcast and disked or harrowed in. If it is
11211 _ to be sown with a small grain or Italian ryegrass, the seeds may
 . be mixed and sown at the same time. If drilled separately, the
V retch seed should be sown ahead of the small grain. Crimson
cpt clover, when sown with small grain or ryegrass, may be sown
be through the grass-seed attachment of the grain drill at the time
l to the grain or ryegrass is sown, or sown broadcast afterwards. Crim-
im, son clover and other small seed should be covered with not more
CBE than yl inch of soil.
» Rates of seeding
Seeding rates vary widely. Vetch is sown at heavier rates than
dis- i smaller seeded legumes. lt seems·desirable to sow the small
Jbc _ seeded kinds at rates considerably in excess of what would be
_h H expected to produce a heavy stand. Recommended acre rates of
gnu _ seeding for the various winter legumes in Kentucky are as follows:
?Om' smzerz wm) smazz
defs S”S£I2’f.1S.l$"“ g'“iZ,Z§J§§'l”'"
lf in ggglsggntgpver (threshed seed) ........... . .................... 13-lg   8-10 lb
vari) .......... Z[fZ]Z[j]Z]ZIII]{XXII]ZZZZZZZXIZZZZZZZZZZZXZZZIKZZZZZZXZ zojeo 11)* 15-25 11)
Black medic ........... , ...................,................................ lO-20 lb
101*11 Bur clover” .................................................................... 30-G0 lb 20-25 lb
th H `- 11111ton clover ....,........................................................... 10-20 lb 8-12 lb
ES in 1srr p. 15. ¤ U))1)a11r-r1.
imSS` Small grains with which the legumes are seeded should be
COW S<>11‘11 at 4 to 6 peeks to the acre. The lighter rates are preferred
tedly for early seeding; the heavier for late seeding. Ten to 15 pounds
mw Ol Italian ryegrass seed to the acre are sufficient for the ryegrass-
graSS winter-legume lUlX[l11`€-
dm- Willter legumes may be seeded from about August 5 to Oc-
me “’l’€1` l5. The best date varies with sections of the state and with
)d OY  125***116- G€11€1‘ally speaking, seeding dates in southern and V
‘ r1€1¤ K€11tucky are about l0 days later than in northern and
Orlbe eastern Kentucky. Because winter vetch, hop clover, and black _
  giilliofille tiuite winter hardy, they may be sown late, though Q V
ld be . is Slluhtylng @1511165 more growth before winter. Crimson clover
s y less winter hardy; therefore 1t Ollgllf to be sown early.

 { l. K ‘
it
§ 6
l
l i Bur clover and button clover are perhaps somewhat less winter- 5-
hardy than crimson clover. Preferred dates for seeding the win-  
I ter legumes under various conditions in different parts of Ken-   Z;
\ tucky are shown in the table on page 18.  
l Inoculotion if
l All winter legume seed should be inoculated immediately be- -  V-
- fore seeding to assure inoculation with an effective nodule organ-  
ism. The manufacturers directions should be carefully followed. `  
ii Uses  *
F \Vinter legumes as a group are of value in Kentucky prin- ·  
cipally for soil improvement and conservation, and for winter ‘··.
, and spring pasture. i  
{ Some of these crops may undoubtedly be harvested profitably ,
l for seed and a few may be made into hay, but the weather is fre-
quently so unfavorable for hay making at the time they should » l
  be harvested that they are better used otherwise.
Q lf used wholly as green—manure crops, they should be plowed
i under while still green and in any event at least two weeks beli<>rt
the next crop is seeded. inn
Insect pests and diseases is I
Insects seldom seriously injure any of the winter legumes- ; im]
Crown rot often damages crimson clover and vetch and souw mg
. damage may be done to most of them by organisms that canst the
K stems to become black and, when severe, to drop their leaves. i Sul
“Pl
Crimson Clover  
Crimson clover is an erect, pubescent, many-steninied plum ht;
that is especially distinguished from the other legumes by its loni- R S
numerous, compact heads of crimson flowers. _ Hd
This clover possesses several good qualities that make it. in , Wil
Kentucky, the most generally useful of the winter legumes. TIN
cost of seeding an acre is usually among the lowest of the c1‘<>P*· On
Zllld Ll1€ seed is easily sown. It stands pasturing well; is zitlilpllll im
to medium productive soil as well as to the best soil; is palatablc- S (
nutritious, and quite productive of pasture and seed. Tllé €l`*’l’· [E?
however, has some objectionable qualities that have prevented 1l~

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1 . _`€‘*   ~_~;1f3¤r..J· '%,;v,.y»¢"   . `,_‘     A4 §· ;’ .. ,_   {*3  ; 4
Wggm.  {ji 9*   <.#*l.¢· l·*l¥,_,   gr j. ·" · * »l/ `3é=r   ‘·;··*/S 
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, ‘ *.~ I sr  ~,v’·   fo ,—¤'» W'?} · . ~.·¢. ·· ‘* .3 *
Frtablr wi,   ·._ g -   c , j .   »· x , _.r l    { ’  I 
_ { Q,}//Ir;q ~:,. " 4 .’· I   ~E..._·   <’   I  
rs fre- ,  7 qg ryij   V g _5_/, jg: li? .   ._   _=_¢ V.  
· ll `  "?_·`; _ __  ,l- |, , g' ` L` · { >* I}, -` .¢  -v "¢_ -*3 ,*.4 _ I ·~ i`
;houltl * {   -·  s¥;•{· · ·y. -.} \· 'lj _ W/w p    gg_`_;.,_  _,_   A
)lO“·€d Crimson clover is ¤ good cover, posture, und green—m¤nure crop
before
more general use in Kentucky. Perhaps the most serious of these
is the rather fre uent loss of stands in the seedlin stage. This
q g D
ha ens because the seed verminates uickl Y; conse uentl , seed-
¤‘um€S· . . P q l q Y
T Some 1HgS made on a dry soil germinate with the first shower that wets
the surface, onl t0 erish because of insulhcient moisture in the
; cauS€ , Y _ P _
_ subsurface. Sowmv at heav rates——2o to 30 ounds er acre-
aves. ¤ Y P P
appears to produce more successful stands than the lighter rates
commonl used. Stands from late seedin s are likel to die dur-
_ g Y
I [ mg the winter unless the winter is mild and not conducive to
rrr . . . . . .
l lgl ll€HV1¤g. If, however, the late seeding rs made in a sod, or with
— ni. . . . .
[5 O l A Small grain or with Italian ryegrass, the stands seem to be suf-
' _} liciently protected by the companion crop to survive rather severe
6 lf· ll winters.
. The
.s. . , ,
Cmp, CYlm$0¤ ClOV€I` makes sufliciently good growth rn Kentucky
e l l ~· · . . . . . . . .
dapwd OH $01l of medium productivity to ]LlS[1fy 1[S use evell when lt IS
impossible to a 1 lime and fertilizer. However, the cro re-
rlatablc. PP Y I P
IC Cmp sPOnd$ SO favorably to the soil treatments suggested on page 3 ‘
med Us that it 1S Worthwhile to go to considerable expense t0 make tllem.

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il
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l
l y Use
Crimson clover is valuable primarily for soil improvement and
I pastufé. Usually a stand serves both purposes. For pasture ii
is especially prized because of its rapid growth, excellent palatabil-
» ity, and high nutritive value. It is likely to cause bloating til
i cattle and sheep, especially if they are turned on it when lniiigri
and without salt and water readily at hand.
Crimson clover makes good hay when it is cut in early bloom
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l ·$  `€&  r‘  ‘"' 2   -1  ·*-V    Y l   ·¤= J P h
{ »y_ * .,;gQ _·"5.   V, >· ,, ,_  kg   
l`   i . €~i ./ ( yi!    "e     ll; I ll  gw     { J ;
        ·,   "    
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l      éi l  w·"_¤‘,  'T  4 ect   gd i  '
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l   l i? } lift l CF?   “'* ’     t.     if 
4     [  {   Q, » X;       7, k   W   `    V -I `  X`?
V  ‘ *   M *»,,`»¢,¤ ~ ·A1,»~,_—   ¢ ,t ,
* -   1 ,  v it \»»     .7    `- ·,  t   b
l it. . -¤" fit  tl . lie that l€¥%E     és
st
Small groin und crimson clover grow well together, protect the soil, and make excel- 2 8,
lent posture
l . . . . , li
l and is well cured. However, it is seldom possible to make good
hay of crimson clover unless it is cured artihcially. \\’eather in P
Kentucky is seldom good for making hay at the time crimsim - D
clover hay should be made. It crimson clover hay is to be led It
llOl`S€S or mules it must be cut before any heads become l)l`0ll`llY a
otherwise "hair balls," formed in the intestines from eertain pillli tl
of these mature flowers, may kill the animals. Sl
Some crimson clover is harvested for seed in Kentucky- ll l‘ ta
Hot dilihcult to harvest, though careful handling ot the t`1`0P“ t~
required to prevent shattering oi the seed. The crop should lt tc
cut with a Field mower a few days alter the last heads bectiillv t
brownish. Unless the crop is lodged, it is desirable to cut liiull . P
in order to reduce the amount of material that has to be handled t

 ii  
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luiiicu   7         x 1 ’:AV :&`~g_»f im 1,
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mf     ,·i~— = *   ;;i>~~5.~._;. ‘?;;_~,   ._     AA,4 5 ¤—
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ve   ‘ ~ »   J  , . N   ‘» A., t ps ~
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    ·' ’• , —  .»l\*” ·¤ vg _, » we sei"     , ._ `_ l
. A mixture of Italian ryegrass and crimson clover prevents erosion and makes good grazing
To avoid excessive shattering of the seed, mowing should be done
while dew is on the plants, and the material as cut should_ be
bunched or windrowed by special attachments on the cutter bar
of the mowing machine. In taking the crop to the huller or to
storage to await hulling, it should be handled little and carefully,
‘°k° °"°|" ‘ and hauled on a wagon with a tight bottom.
The seed may be hulled satisfactorily with the small combine
{ke md harvester, a clover-seed huller, or grainthreshing machine equip-
qthgr in pecl with special hulling concaves and screens.
 
crimson Disease
be fedio Crimson clover is frequently injured somewhat, and occasion-
3 bmwiil ally seriously, by crown or stem rot (Sclerotinia tvifoliorum) . The
aiu prim disease kills plants during mild winter weather and during the
I, spring. Crowns of the dead plants may be lifted readily from the
;ky. ll ** Uiproot, and more or less spherical, but irregularly shaped white
e crop 1* to black masses, may be found in and about many of the dead
houldbc crowns and taproots. These bodies are conclusive evidence of
5 l)eC0lllf ¥l1€ disease, There is 110 practical remedy fO1` it, HOF CHU it l)€
cut luqll prevented by any known method. Fortunately, the disease rarely
liaiicllcd destroys the entire stand, and only infrequently reduces it seri-

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      Ls °"‘ ·»     1  ‘» a ‘ $;g?`ii~ `@*»?*“(>? 1 / =%s »#¢v
 · ·¢ >’ »·<.¤¢:»¤$¢»    · A   ».‘· ” ·‘ ·.   we  »V »&.   # ¤ * 2, 
      ·       ·r—_       A Use
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gi ’·    1- ,A~A.V4 .-   i.~   my
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1             wm
1 l   Av»·-'`‘»`     .  
1  5  - » 1111 11
. cial
Harvesting crimson clover seed V _ Past
1
1 l
LA ously. Even when the disease is quite prevalent in a Held, enough · Past
A plants usually survive to produce a good crop. ~ mm
1 _ _ othc
1 Varieties A.
i ‘ I I ' · l\llll
1 Dixie and other hardseeded varieties are known as reseecling not
` crimson clover. These are less productive of herbage in Kentucky Pm
than most lots of commercial seed, especially those that originatt On S
in \Vestern Kentucky. However, if sown in established pastu1“€ and
and allowed to seed they may reseed more successfully than the -.1 1
ordinary kind. C10`.
1 heat
Hop Clovers ml.
Of the three hop clovers, only the one known as low hop isbt
clover is common in Kentucky. This somewhat leafy plant grows 1 clip
erect and branches widely if not crowded. Its yellow flowers art shot
rather loosely arranged in small but conspicuous heads of much thor
the same shape as red clover. The {lowers, however, droop 011 ol p
maturity. Usually its height is between 6 and 10 inches, but11 p l
varies from 3 to 18 inches or more, depending upon moisture and  . hors
soil productivity. The plant is inconspicuous during fall and has
winter, but during the spring it becomes very noticeable becausc l
of its abundant bloom. Only the low hop clover is consideféd lll llcal
this discussion, though it applies almost equally {O the small<€d grass and hop clover in a pasture will make a considerable V
,— (Trt Wd and the pasture will be better for its removal, provided it _
t is not cut closer than average hay stubble.

 1 "
 
I -
1 12 ·
F
l V Unpastured stands of hop clover and excess growth of it mir
Y be harvested for seed by cutting with a mower and threshing gi _
l hulling when dry. For home use, the material may be scattered
\ thinly over pastures in which it is desired to get a start of the cmp
l . i
Harry Vetch
Y \Vinter or hair vetch is a hair , ur le—flowered, vin ‘ levumt
D
that has found favor with many farmers in various parts of limi
si tucky. It behaves normally as a winter annual, but indiridull
W Jlants ma live two ears. The chief advantages of the cro>:m 
Y Y o l
its winter hardiness, toleration of soil acidity, and good soil-l>i1ild· A
r ing and soil—conserving qualities. Objectionable qualities that ~
i have revented wider farm use are its vin and rather irostrzur
V Y l V
“ habit of growth, relatively high—acre cost of seeding, and tendcml Sq
to become a weed in grain fields.
i Because of its viny nature and consequent tendency to mat rm wl
Q the ground, vetch is commonly sown with one of the small grniut m
J These support it so that it can be pastured to better 2lCl\`Zllllll§€"l ` Of
more easily made into hay than if grown alone. _ tu
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#\   · /\ »¢r.,_ —..! v·•u.· i       {M 5
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I  Y ·—· $ `     M
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‘ —.=`   . . t ·   _. Se
rm,»—  .   _
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A stem of hairy or winter vetch in bloom

  i 13
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crop mr i »¤·;>~ ‘       A *_1 ».,··‘¤; aa;. -~”¢;.  s*:·‘;¢"`  · ir!
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iKl@$ [lll? _ A mixture of vetch und small gruin protects und enriches the soil
prostraic
teirtlenu V Soil
i Vetch is wholly winter-hardy in Kentucky and adapted t0 all
L 7] . . . ~ {
0 lmlll well drained soils in the state, though many need modei ate t1 eat-
lll gmllht ment for satisfactory production of the crop. It is more tolerant
‘   . . . .
mlmiifll of soil acidity than most cultivated legumes, and perhaps no Ken-
» tucky soil is so acid that it will not produce good growth of the
crop if other soil factors are favorable. The crop also makes fair
_ _ Growth on soil of moderate mineral content, but `ood growth
D O
i ought not to be expected on a poor acid soil; consequently, the
* _ soil treatments recommended on page 3 are advised for this crop
i .; in so far as practicable.
*`   Seeding
, Because vetch seed is too large to become covered readil b
D
stubble or other litter on the ground, a seedbed should always
be prepared. It makes little difference how it is made, but it
should be firm and at least moderately fine. Vetch differs from
most cultivated legumes in that the seedlings come tl1rough the
ground from deep seeding; consequently, it may be sown 3 inches
dee if necessar , an advantage in dr weather.
D Y I
Use
V€tCh undoubtedly always will be used in Kentucky, prin-
tipally for soil improvement and soil conservation for which pur-

   l
  14
!
i poses it has outstanding value, especially for use on soil that for
one reason or another is impractical to lime. Alone, it is only
. l moderately satisfactory for pasture because of its prostrate habit
l of growth and somewhat low palatability. However, when sorrn A
j with small grain crops these objections are largely removed.
i Saving seed
i Because of its vining habit, its continuing blooming period.
A and the tendency of its seed to shatter, vetch is rather difficult to
4 harvest for seed, yet seed yields in Kentucky are good enough to
t justify at least limited growing of the crop for seed. Average yields ‘
of vetch seed in Kentucky vary from 200 to 250 pounds per acre.
j but individual crops may make twice as much if shattering can l
{ be prevented.
if Seed crops of vetch may be grown alone, but they are easier to
harvest when grown with small grain. The crop may be cut, J
  cured in the windrow or stack, and threshed with a grain thresher
l or a combine. While it is possible to combine a mature-standing Soil
r crop, it is usually much better to cut and cure vetch before threslr- ]
ing. Only when grown with small grain can vetch be harvested me
with a binder, and even then it may be somewhat diflicult to hm'- Gm
vest. Pure stands of vetch may be allowed to mature, raked inw ._ and
windrows without mowing and threshed. Vetch and small grnili Tm
seed mixtures can be separated with a special separator. [Cm
Use
Black Medic *
Black medic is also commonly known as yellow trefoil. Though of I;
many plants are biennial under favorable conditions, the species ture
is essentially a winter annual. It is frequently mistaken for WP SW
clover because both flower at about the same time and the blooms rcse
appear much alike. However, it can readily be distinguished neu
from hop clover by its prostrate growth, rather square, pubesccut j Q
stems, and large, rather compact group of seed pods. Under far ru l·
Ol`Z1bl€ COl'1ditiOns, black medic in Kentucky makes a mat 6 I0 lf lf) [
inches thick by early summer. Ordinarily, however, it products mor
less than half this amount, so that the Plant nqay be consid€1‘€(l Calif
Ollly 21 pasture legume_ . llsr

 15
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As1er to
ye Cut, Bluck medic in u Kentucky bluegruss pasture
rresher
andiug soil
·esl1- A A A A .
thi Black 1ned1c grows o11 a wide variety of soils, provided they
rvestecl _ _ A A A A A __
I are 11ot strongly acid, but lf IS of practically no value 111 Kentucky
nr- , A . A . A
tg _ €xCept on tl1e better soils. The plant IS a close relative of alfalfa
= 11llO A A A A A
~ _ - and has similar but somewhat less exacting soil re uirements.
1 aruu D
¤ ‘ Though 1t IS adapted to soil of rather low available mineral co11-
tent, it responds to the soil treat111e11t reco111111ended on page 3.
Use
The palatability, nutritive value, and relatively lO\\'·2lCl`€‘ cost
fhough of black medic are qualities tl1at co111111end it for IDEYIIIZIIICHI pas-
species ture rnixtures i11 Kentucky. \Vere it not for its too aggressive
[Or l10P · 3T0Wtl1 under some conditions, it could be recon1111ended without
blooms l`€SCl`\’2l[lOll. Until more is known re¤`ardin¤* its l1abits i11 er111a-
O D
guished nent pastures, however, it should be SOWI1 011ly for trial.
Abesceut Ex erience i11 seeding tl1e cro in astures for tl1e hrst ti111e
_ D P P
der fm- lll Kentucky l1as bee11 SOI`ll€\\’llEi[ discouraging because only poor
6 to 10 to fair stands were obtained. Perhaps failure to get complete
»roduces moeulation of tl1e seedli11gs is a pri11cipal cause of failure, be- `
1siclere