SWEET CLOVER FOR BEES AND STOCK IN ILLINOIS. 



This clover is one that yields a large amount of 

 honey. It begins to bloom in this latitude in the early 

 part of July, usually; some seasons a little earlier, 

 others a little later. By the time white and alsike 

 clover and basswood are going out of bloom, sweet- 

 clover is well out in bloom; and where abundant a 

 continuous bloom will be had for securing surplus 

 honey of two months or more. When a part of this 

 clover is pastured or mown for hay, such will bloom 

 the second time, and continue in bloom until after 

 hard frosts. I have seen bees working on this bloom 

 in October, when all other honey-yielding plants were 

 killed with one exception, that being giant white- 

 spiral mignonette, which is sometimes grown in 

 flower-gardens. 



Sweet clover stands drouth well, but gives a better 

 yield of honey and pasture with frequent showers. 

 The honey is light in color, but, to my taste, not of 

 as fine a flavor as that from white or alsike clovers 

 or basswood. In the dry regions of the West, sweet 

 clover and alfalfa have proved valuable plants for 

 bees and stock. The hay is largely fed to stock. 

 Here cattle pasture on it freely, and the hay has 

 seemed to give good satisfaction, as stock soon learn 

 to like it. 



This plant should be grown in all waste places, and 

 thus take the place of the noxious weeds which grow 

 there. 



For hay this clover should be cut while stalks and 

 leaves are a bright green, and before any seed-stalks 

 appear. A large amount is grown on an acre when 

 a good stand is secured. 



The plant is not so hard to get rid of when de- 

 sired as some suppose. When the land is broken up 

 and cultivated the plant is gone, and no further 

 trouble need be feared any more than from other 

 clovers. Pasturing the field so no seeds mature has 

 the same effect if kept up one or two summers. Some 

 farmers in this State are growing large fields of this 

 clover for feeding to stock in pasture and hay, so f 

 am credibly informed. 



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