THE DIVERSIFIED FARM. 



In diversified farming by irrigation lies tne salvation of agriculture 



INFORMATION FOR THE FARVIER. 



Last year over $1,200,000 worth of red 

 clover seed was exported from the United 

 States, principally to Europe; the year 

 before over $1.800,000. In previous years 

 still larger exportations have been made. 

 But now Ijuropeans, and especially the 

 German scientists, are making great out- 

 ury against the American seed and against 

 the plant resulting from American seed. 

 This calls attention to the great difference 

 between the American red clover and the 

 European plant. An experimental plot of 

 the Department of Agriculture shows the 

 two plants (both Trifolium pratense) to be 

 as widely dissimilar as two different spe- 

 cies. The German red clover has almost 

 hairless stems, while those of the Ameri- 

 can variety are covered with hairs, and the 

 leaf growth of the German clover is much 

 closer and heavier than our clover, which 

 runs much more to stem. The German 

 variety, however, does not stand hot 

 weather. 



''The clover belt of Europe," said Mr. 

 A. J. Pieters, who is making a study of 

 the different clovers, corresponds in cli- 

 mate somewhat to Minnesota, Wisconsin 

 and sections of the United States much 

 cooler than that of Mason and Dixon's 

 line,- and our plots clearly showed during 

 the recent hot spell in Washington that 

 German clover is not adapted to this part 

 of the United States. Its leaves became 

 brown and dry, although it was in moist 

 soil, whereas the American clover beside 

 it stood green and vigorous. I think, 

 however, German clover may be a very 

 valuable forage plant in our cooler sec- 

 tions, as its leaf growth is very thick and 

 compact." 



Some pure German seed will be pro- 

 cured and trials made of it in the more 

 northern and northwestern states. 



These experiments with German clover 

 are of interest, too, from another stand- 

 point than that of forage. Germany and 

 central Europe generally, cannot raise 

 nearly enough clover seed to supply the 

 home demand and must always import 

 large quantities. If they object to the 

 American clover seed as producing a stalky, 

 hairy plant not adapted to their wants, it 

 is important to see if we cannot raise Ger- 

 man clover seed to perfection and so keep 

 up our large exportation of this farm 

 product. 



It is safe to say that few of the farmers 

 who are sowing crimson clover know just 

 what kind of seed they are planting or how 

 liable they are to have poor seed sold 

 them. Crimson clover seed which has 

 been kept over for a year is very little 

 good. It will hardly germinate at all. 

 The agricultural department is receiving 

 samples of seed which came originally 

 from the various American seedsmen, and 

 in almost every instance the fresh seed is 

 more or less adulturated with the seed of 

 the previous year's crop. 



"Many of these samples," said Mr. A. J. 

 Pieters in charge of the Pure Seed Bureau, 

 "will not germinate fifty per cent; some 

 will not germinate fifteen. It is easy to 

 tell old seed or seed which has been 

 spoiled in the curing by its dark brown 

 color. Good fresh seed is quite light or 

 amber colored. 



"It would be such an easy matter, too," 

 he continued, "for each farmer to test a 

 pinch of his clover seed on a damp cloth 

 and observe what proportion sprouts. It 



