SUBTERRANEAN CLOVER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20827, 20 March 1931, Page 18

SUBTERRANEAN CLOVER.

BENEFIT IN AUSTRALIA. Subterranean clover lias been known for a long period in Central and Southern Europe. According to a bulletin issued by the Department of Agriculture of South Australia, credit for discovering, proving, and giving publicity,to this important fodder plant so far as Australia is concerned is practically entirely due to the late Mr. A. W. Howard, of Mount Barker, South Australia. His endeavours to popularise if, were unceasing, and he acted in a most, public-spirited manner, writing articles on the clover, supplying sfcd gratis lo many parts of the world, and giving particulars as to its cultivation to all who appealed to him for advice. Before his death in March, 1930, he had the satisfaction of seeing the fruits of his labour materialise, for thousands of acres in South Australia, as well as large areas 'in all States of the Commonwealth, are under the crop, and requests for seed and information were, and still are, being received from almost every country in the world having a temperate climate. Because of its special characteristics this clover has revolutionised farming practices in many d/stricts of South Australia, and has converted a considerable number of farms where difficulty had been experienced in making profits into valuable livestock holdings, with greatly increased hmd. values. Moreover, an extensive area of country densely covered with scrub, which, previous to the advent of subterranean clover, could nob be economically cleared and cropped, has been fitted for agricultural purposes owing to the ease with which the clover can be established.