Pastures for Florida


 Hubam Sweet Clover (Melilotus alba Desv. var. annual Auct.),
 an annual variety of biennial white sweet clover, grows 18 to
 70 inches tall. It is used as a winter annual in Florida. This
 clover may be distinguished from all others by the small white
 flowers borne on seedstalks 1 to 5 inches long (Fig. 43). The
 yellowish-brown seed are borne in dark brownish pods. The
 leaflets generally
 have notched mar-
 gins and are 1/2 to
 11/4 inches long.
 This sweet clover
 is widely adapted
 from the standpoint
 of soi moisture,
 growing best on
 moist soils not sub-
 ject to flooding. The
 soil should be well
 limed, 1 to 3 tons per
 acre generally being
 sufficient. Grazing
 reaches its peak dur-
 ing March and April.
 It does not tolerate
 very close grazing.
 Adapted strains seed
 prolifically i n I a t e
 spring and seed has
 been harvested with
 combines. It is seed-
 ed at the rate of 8
 to 15 pounds per acre
 when planted alone FIG. 42.-CALIFORNIA BUR CLOVER.
or at the rate of 2 to t i
or at the rate of 2 to Recognized by its prominent, toothed stipules,
5 pounds in mixed yellowish flowers and coiled seedpods.
clover plantings.
 Cattle do not eat this clover readily at first because it tastes
bitter, due to a bitter-sweet organic substance. This organic
substance gives Hubam clover a sweet odor which is character-
istic of many of the sweet clovers. Usually cattle eat it readily
after they have had access to it for some time.
 Yellow Annual Sweet Clover (Melilotus indica L.) is very