Distribution

Alsike clover is found in Europe, Northern Africa and

Western Asia. In these it has been cultivated for a long time, but its

favorite home in the Old World would seem to be in Northern Europe. It

would doubtless be correct to say that it is indigenous to Europe, and

probably that it is indigenous to each of the three continents named. It

is not indigenous to America, but was introduced into the same probably

from Great Britain or Scandinavia. In some parts of North America it

grows with a luxuriance equal to, if not, indeed, greater, than that

shown by this plant when grown under the most favorable conditions

which Europe furnishes.



This plant is better adapted to a cool and humid climate than to one hot

and dry. It is even more hardy than medium red clover, in the sense of

enduring cold, and will live under conditions of climate so austere as

to be fatal to red clover. It may, therefore, be grown further north

than medium red clover, and under conditions so exposed as to cause

medium red clover to fail. But it does not succeed quite so well as the

former toward the southerly limit of the successful production of medium

red clover; hence, the limit of production in the semi-arid belt ceases

sooner than in the case of the other variety. The best climatic

conditions for growing it are found not far from the boundary line

between the United States and Canada, and in the vicinity of the

Atlantic and Pacific oceans and the Great Lakes.



In the United States the best crops are grown in the States which border

on Canada, and in these the highest adaptation, climate and soil

considered, is found in Michigan, Wisconsin and Northeastern Minnesota.

But in New York the adaptation is also high, and also in certain parts

of Montana, Idaho and Washington. Good crops may also be grown in nearly

all the second tier of States that lie southward from the Canadian

boundary. The exceptions are those embraced in the semi-arid belt.

Further south than the second tier of States to which reference has just

been made, the successful growth of alsike generally lessens, and yet in

parts of these States, as, for instance, Kentucky, Tennessee and

Missouri, good crops are grown. Some of the Rocky Mountain valleys, more

especially those that can be irrigated, and that are also sufficiently

elevated, grow excellent crops of alsike. Much of the province of

Ontario has very high adaptation to the growth of alsike clover, and in

several counties of that province large quantities are grown, not only

for hay, but also for seed. In Ontario County in the said province, are

certain clay soils rich in lime; in fact, almost marley in character,

which have been found especially well adapted to growing alsike clover

seed, and in certain areas in proximity to the Georgian Bay, adaptation

exists about equally high. In some parts of Quebec good crops are also

grown. But this variety of clover has not been grown as yet with much

success in Manitoba, Assiniboia, Alberta or Saskatchewan. Both soil and

climate, however, in these provinces should not be uncongenial to it in

the main. In the cultivable lands of British Columbia, as in those of

Washington, it grows remarkably well. Especially in the river bottoms

and on the tide lands can immense crops be grown, as also on the tide

lands of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, but not on the upland sandy

soils of these provinces.