AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



46T 



it makes readily in a day's sun, and 

 affords the most elegant fodder for both 

 dairy cows and sheep. These classes of 

 stock particularly, for its nitrogenous 

 qualities, hence, a valuable milk-pro- 

 ducer, and valuable on that account for 

 breeding ewes. 



As it remains in bloom a long time, 

 and its blossoms are readily accessible 

 to bees, to secure its wealth of nectar 

 which it secretes in fine, warm weather, 

 it becomes at once one of the most val- 

 uable plants farmers and bee-keepers, 

 who have land at their disposal, can 

 grow. 



The quality of the honey it produces 

 is little if any inferior to that gathered 



ALSIKE CLOVER. 



from the white clover ; in fact, I have 

 frequently seen persons who preferred 

 the former to the latter. Alsike clover 

 honey has a slight amber tint in distinc- 

 tion from white clover nectar, and ex- 

 perts claim to detect a faint taste like 

 basswood honey ; neither any disparage- 

 ment to the product of Alsike clover. 



All soils are not adapted to the growth 

 of Alsike clover. It is hardly worth 

 while to sow it upon dry or sandy soils. 

 A clay loam ; a tenacious but not wet 

 soil containing considerable humus or 

 vegetable matter, is adapted to the 

 growth of this clover, 

 moist to grow oats to 

 be found adapted to 

 dry soils but little of 



seen after the second year. Its roots do 

 not penetrate the soil like the tap-root 

 of the larger varieties of clover, but 

 spread out nearer the surface. 



In seeding for hay, it is usual to sow 

 six pounds of Alsike clover, a peck of 

 herdsgrass (timothy) and a bushel of 

 red-top seed, per acre. But for bee-pas- 

 turage, eight or ten pounds of the clover 

 would not be too much, with less of the 

 other varieties ; or even twelve pounds 

 of Alsike seed per acre with no grass- 

 seed mixed with it. It should be borne 

 in mind that Alsike clover seed is but 

 little more than half as large as the seed 

 of the red variety, hence much less seed 

 will suflBce to stock the ground. 



I think that many make the mistake 

 of sowing the fine seeds of grass with 

 grain, and harrow all into the ground 

 together; while giving the grain the 

 right depth of covering of soil, the 

 fine seeds of the clover and grasses 

 are covered too deeply, and many never 

 germinate at all. The preferable way 

 is to harrow or drill in the grain, and 

 follow with the clover and grass-seed, 

 broad-casting it, covering with a brush 

 harrow, or better still, a moderately 

 heavy roller. This gives a smooth, even 

 surface for the reaper and mower, com- 

 pacts the soil, and gives just the right 

 covering for the fine seeds of grass and 

 clover. 



Lewiston, Maine. 



That Sting-Trowel Theory 

 Land of Dzierzon. 



Written for the American Bee Journal 

 BY DR. C. C. MILLER. 



Any soil not too 



a good yield, will 



Alsike. But on 



the clover will be 



Are you sure "the intelligent composi- 

 tor " hasn't been taking liberties with 

 Prof. Clarke's note on page 330? Does 

 he really mean that the difference in the 

 flavor of buckwheat and clover honey 

 comes from the poison of the sting ? If 

 there is no misprint in the affair, then it 

 seems that Prof. Clarke goes a step 

 farther now than he did, for in his book 

 I find nothing as to flavor from formic 

 acid, unless it be elsewhere than on 

 pages 48 and 60. And isn't it a further 

 step to say that the bees smear formic 

 acid on the cappings ? 



Bro. Clarke, in the name of all that 

 some of us old fogies hold dear in the 

 way of tradition, are you going still 

 farther ? Will you next tell us of some 

 further duty of the sting ? Allow me to 

 say in all candor, that it seems to me 

 that it is due to yourself and to the 



