the same corn ratio. It is sufficient for present pur- 

 poses to state that the butcher who dressed the lambs 

 testified that the .sweet-clover-fed lambs were the 

 fattest and finest carcasses he ever handled, and a 

 photograph of the dressed meat showed much 

 superiority of the sweet-clover lamb over lamb fed 

 native hay. The alfalfa lambs gained 34.3 pounds per 

 head, a little less than four pounds better than the 

 sweet-clover lambs. That is, sweet clover offers a sub- 

 stitute almost, though not quite, of the same feeding 

 value as alfalfa, where the latter is not available. 

 Perhaps a portion of the success was due to curing 

 the hay in the stack a year before being fed. The 

 people of this country have not appreciated the value 

 of time in curing hay. I am told that old-crop hay 

 usually brings a premium in the haymarkets of Eng- 

 land. The evidence is conclusive to me that sweet- 

 clover hay, properly grown, handled, and fed has a 

 value worth while at least in many localities where 

 the plant will thrive and where alfalfa does not do 

 well for any reason. 



Perhaps no plant has a higher value as a fertiliz- 

 ing agent. Soil from sweet-clover land is useful in 

 inoculation for alfalfa with nitrogen-gathering bac- 

 teria. So impressed have I become with sweet clover 

 tnat I have taken up the task of its improvement by 

 plant-breeding. I believe it may be made to lose a 

 portion or all of the cumarin, which is the bitter- 

 sweet principle that makes it unpalatable to stock; 

 and perhaps it may be possible to change it into a 

 perennial. 



The seed I bought for sweet clover at 18 cents per 

 pound was adulterated with alfalfa seed, so I have a 

 stand of about half-and-half sweet clover and alfalfa. 

 However, this will not be a serious disadvantage and 

 I have hopes of getting quick results in improving 

 sweet clover, both in palatableness and yield. 



Any one who wishes to plant sweet clover for hay 

 or soil improvement can get seed from almost any 

 reliable seedsman. I recommend planting fifteen or 

 twenty pounds of hulled seed to the acre. It may be 

 sown broadcast if the seedbed is moist and fine, or, 



