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Trifolium hybridian <br />alsike clover <br />Clovers have long been recognized as capable of increasing soil fertility. These <br />plants are able to increase the nitrogen content of the soil from the rout tuber- <br />cles which they bear. The mechanical action of the Iong, deep rout systems of <br />clovers also improves the tilth of the soil, These roots penetrate deeply into <br />the subsoil making plant food, which is inaccessible to most other plants. <br />Several species of clovers have been used successfully in range reseeding pro- <br />jects throughout the west, They produce an abundance of viable seed which ger- <br />minate well even when several years old. Seeds stored for 9 years had a germina- <br />tion percentage of 71.6 percent. <br />Alsike clover (T. hybrid um}, a perennial introduced from Europe, escaped from <br />cultivation and is now found growing along roads, streams, and roe aduws in the <br />mountains. It prefers moist soils and will thrive on poorly drained lands or <br />• even heavy soils. This clover is not usually grown alone for hay because of its <br />decumbent, spreading habit, but is usually cultivated in mixture with such <br />grasses as timothy and red top. Alsike clover, although not as palatable as cer- <br />tain other species, is never-the-less highly nutritious and apparently, does not <br />cause bloat as readily as do some other types. (U.S. Forest Service, 1937}. <br />Trifolium repe <br />white clover <br />White clover (T. re pens), a perennial with creeping stems which root at the <br />joints was introduced from Europe but now occurs naturally on Fairly moist soils <br />of the mountain ranges at medium to high elevations. It withstands greater temp- <br />erature extremes than either red or alsike clover and is suited to rather cool, <br />moist regions being quite tolerant to shade. This clover is relished highly by <br />all livestock. It is extremely nutritious, withstands tr~r+pling well, and is <br /> <br />3-136 <br />REVISED FE8 1 3 '87 <br />