226 FORAGE CROPS. 



mals thus to eat food under constraint is not good 

 for them, but thus it is that in some instances sheep 

 have to be confined on rape and forced to eat it 

 through sheer hunger. In a short time they become 

 very fond of the rape. So likewise they may be 

 taught to eat sweet clover. Of course where other 

 and better kinds of clover will grow, it would not be 

 wise to trouble with sweet clover. But in the semi- 

 arid belt east of the Rocky mountains, and in the 

 poor, sandy soils of the south, it may yet be found 

 that an important mission awaits this plant, first, in 

 growing a crop that will renovate the soil when 

 plowed under and increase its power to hold mois- 

 ture ; second, in furnishing food for bees ; and, third, 

 in providing pasture. Hay should be sought from 

 it the first year rather than the second. 



Sweet clover can only be sown in the spring or 

 summer in very cold latitudes, but in those that are 

 mild it can be sown in the autumn or spring, prefer- 

 ably the former. Usually not less than fifteen 

 pounds of the seed is sown to the acre. In the south 

 it is frequently sown on the surface of stubble land 

 after the crop has been harvested, and when thus 

 sown it is simply covered by the harrow. If sweet 

 clover is kept from blossoming, the land will soon 

 be freed from it when it is so desired. Although 

 sweet clover seeds profusely, the high price of the 

 seed at the present time stands much in the way of 

 extending its growth. 



YELLOW CLOVER. 



Yellow clover (Medicago lupulina) is sometimes 

 called black medic. At other times it is spoken of 



