416 ■ ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



Sweet clover is of great value as a fertilizer. When it dies the 

 second winter, as it always does, the long roots rotting away, leave 

 the ground tilled with larger and smaller holes. If turned under 

 while green, it gives a dense mass of fertilizing material. It may 

 be used to bring into fine tilth ground useless for almost any other 

 purpose. It will grow in the toughest clay, where perhaps nothing 

 else would grow, leaving the ground in better condition for something 

 else. 



Sweet clover does not bloom until the second year, but a crop of hay 

 may be cut from it the first year. It blooms nearly as soon as white 

 clover, and if cut just before coming into bloom it may be made 

 to bloom after white clover is gone. Even without any attention 

 its blooming period lasts after white clover is gone, and sometimes 

 bees may be seen working on it after heavy frosts. 



ARTIFICIAL, POLLEN. 



Generally, bees are able to get all the pollen they need, but some- 

 times there is a time in the spring when it is nice and warm but 

 there is nothing from which the bees can gather honey or pollen. 

 Pollen is just as necessary for bees as honey, and if there is none in 

 the hive (although there generally is) and nothing to gather it from, 

 no brood will be reared, no matter how strong the colony may be. 

 You may, on such warm spring days, give the bees something as 

 a substitute for pollen, especially if you see them so eager for it 

 that they are working upon the sawdust at the woodpile. They 

 will accept almost any kind of grain ground, chopped corn and oats 

 being a favorite. Whatever ground feed you are giving your horses 

 and cows may be given to. the bees. Put in a shallow box, set it out 

 in the open sun, and the bees will find it. Tip the box a little to one 

 side, putting a stone under one side. When the bees have worked 

 the feed down level, reverse the box so the other side will be higher, 

 repeating this throughout the day. When they have worked out all 

 the finer particles, feed the rest to the cows and horses. Even if 

 the bees do not greatly need it, it is worth while to feed it for the 

 sake of seeing them work at it in such a rollicking manner. As 

 soon as they can get the real article, as from hazel, willow or soft 

 maple, you will find your substitute deserted. 



OUTDOOR VERSUS INDOOR WINTERING. 



It may trouble you a little to decide whether you should winter 

 your bees in the cellar or on the summer stands. It may be well 

 to go by precedent. If you have always wintered successfully in a 



