208 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



lower part of the leaf is sharply serrate, the serrations diminishing in running upwards, and 

 the upper portion is almost entire. The leaf is of uniform light color, having no pale spots 

 like the red clover, and grows a darker green with age. It will do well in many soils where 

 the red clover will not grow luxuriantly, and makes a good substitute for it. 



A stiff, clayey soil is best adapted to its growth, particularly a marly clay that is quite 

 moist, and it is thought that it thrives best in such soils as the red-top grass most prefers. It 

 will also do moderately well on cultivated fens and marshes, where the red clover would scarcely 

 grow at all. It is more slender than red clover, as well as finer in its growth, also more 

 nutritious and sweet. Cattle and other stock are exceedingly fond of it. It is more hardy 

 than any of the other varieties of clover, and is rarely winter-killed. On such soils as heave 

 in frosty weather, so that red clover would be entirely killed, the Alsike will do very well. 

 It yields only one crop in a season, and of less weight per acre than red clover, although 

 growing about the same height, but the hay is of better quality, hence what it falls short in 

 weight, when compared with red clover, it seems to make up in nutrition. When sown on a 

 dry or exposed knoll, and cattle are allowed to graze it too closely, it will be liable to be in 

 jured and doubtless will not make its appearance the next year; but when sown on soils 

 fairly suited to its growth, it will bring good returns for at least four or five years. 



As it throws out many stalks from one root, it should be sown thin in order that the roots 

 and branches may have sufficient room for growth, and the roots to strike deep into the sub 

 soil. It bears cropping well, and is admirably adapted to pasturage. 



It continues longer in condition to be cut than any other forage plant, and throws a large 

 number of heads from one stalk, coming into bloom successively for four or five weeks. 

 Even when the heads are nearly ripe, the stalks and leaves are still in condition to make very 

 good hay. The seed crop will make very excellent fodder when the seed has been threshed 

 out. The seed is about half the size of that of the red clover, consequently from five to 

 seven pounds of seed to the acre is sufficient in sowing. The seed is somewhat oval in form, 

 and of a dark color, nearly violet when ripe; when of a yellow green they are not ripe, and 

 will not germinate. It is one of the best plants known for bees, as the blossoms are peculiarly 

 sweet. Mr. Gould says of it: 



&quot; I believe it to be the best honey -plant in the world. Much attention has been given 

 to the habits of the honey-bee in regard to its choice of flowers, and the quantity and quality 

 of the honey stored in different portions of the season. We often see a new plant recom 

 mended for cultivation specially for the bees. I think now that bee-keepers generally agree 

 that the surplus honey is all, or very nearly all, stored during the bloom of the white clover. 

 From all other flowers, including buckwheat, but little more is gathered than is consumed 

 daily. I have for several years had on my place a plat of Alsike clover, besides one of the 

 white. I have often called the attention of people to the working bees on the plats, and it 

 was always easy to see that the Alsike had the greater attraction. Equal areas usually show 

 twice the number of bees on the Alsike. The blooming season is longer on the Alsike; the 

 heads are also more numerous. A field of Alsike clover is the best patronized bee-pasture 

 that I have ever seen, exceeding that of an orchard in full bloom. I am sure that in a neighbor 

 hood of Alsike clover-fields, bee-keepers would not be searching for other plants for their use. 



The. Alsike resembles the white clover in its creeping habits, hence it is better to sow it 

 with some stiff grass, such as orchard grass, when intended to cut it for hay, as it will then 

 grow upright, and is ready to be cut at the same time with the orchard grass. 



In comparing Alsike with red clover, we must not forget that the former grows very 

 little after mowing, and that it never yields a second crop. 



Alsike clover-seed is more easily threshed than red clover. When threshed together, 

 the Alsike always comes out first from the pods, and, therefore, when it can be avoided, it is 

 better not to thresh them together, as the more threshing it receives the more is the straw 



