624 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



leaves of sweet clover are broader than those of 

 alfalfa and are smooth on the under surface, while 

 the leaves of alfalfa are hairy on the under surface. 

 After blooming, sweet clover is readily distinguished 

 from alfalfa by the white or yellow flowers of the 

 former in contrast to the purplish-colored flowers of 

 alfalfa. 



Sweet clover usually grows more dense than alfal- 

 fa, and is coarser. It vinll thrive on soils where 

 alfalfa will not, and has a wider range of climatic 

 adaptation. Sweet-clover roots do not as a rule pen- 

 etrate as deep into the underground as alfalfa roots; 

 but the root development of the former is much 

 greater, and these large succulent roots decay more 

 rapidly and give less trouble in plowing. Sweet 

 clover is more succulent than alfalfa, and is thus 

 more difificult to cure for hay than the latter. Cum- 

 arin is found in sweet clover, but does not occur in 

 alfalfa. Alfalfa is a perennial in duration, while 

 sweet clover is only a biennial. 



Sweet clover superior to alfalfa — easier to get a 

 stand; fits better into rotations; better for cattle, 

 sheep, and bee pasture ; rarely causes bloat ; furnish- 

 es earlier spring pasture; roots decay more rapidly; 

 will grow on poorer soils ; will resist extreme drouth 

 better ; will grow on soils too wet for alfalfa ; will 

 grow on soils too hard for alfalfa ; will grow later 

 in the fall ; practically free from insect pests and 

 plant diseases; produces less washing effect on ani- 

 mals, and is a better green-manure crop. 



Alfalfa superior — better hay ; better pasture for 

 hogs ; more palatable at first ; does not become so 

 coarse and woody; is a perennial; has less hard 

 seed, and is less difficult to cure for hay. 



The protein analysis of 'the fresh forages shows in 

 favor of sweet clover, but it contains a smaller per- 

 centage of all the other nutrients. In case of the 

 hay the analysis shows that sweet clover possesses 

 a higher per cent of protein and fat, while alfalfa 

 contains slightly more ash and carbohydrates. Ac- 

 cording then to the nutritive coefficients sweet-clover 

 hay surpasses alfalfa hay, and fresh sweet clover 

 excels fresh alfalfa in protein content. 



Iowa Experiment Station. W. E. Bowers. 



I think I have before mentioned that I 

 liave for forty years or more championed 

 sweet clover. In view of the above it is a 

 little refreshing- to see now every farm 

 paper more or less interested in testing 

 sweet clover. And just notice the conclud- 

 ing- sentence in the above extract from one 

 of the foremost experiment stations of our 

 land. 



Now just a word in regard to the ability 

 of sweet clover to grow anywhere. In 1.800 

 a railway Avas cut thru a dry clayey hill 

 close to our factory. The dirt piled up was 

 pure yellow clay, and the clay on top of 

 the pile, that came from perhaps ten feet 

 below the original surface, was spread out 

 oyer several square rods. For some little 

 time not a weed of any sort made ils ap- 

 pearance. The ground was so hard and 

 yellow that it was no good, evidently, for 

 any plant. Finally sweet clover gradually 

 got in, and soon grew with rank luxuriance. 

 One spring, when it was up about two feet 

 high, for experiment I had it plowed under 

 and planted to potatoes. People laughed 

 at me for thinking I could grow potatoes on 

 that yellow clay bank without any manure. 



To the sui'prise of everybody, and somewhat 

 to my surprise, I got a fair yield of smooth 

 potatoes. Without the " green manuring' " 

 of sweet clover I should not have had a 

 potato, and perhaps hardly a green leaf. 



EARS HIGHER UP THAN A MAN CAN REACH, 

 AND THREE OR FOUR EARS ON A STALK. 



On page 559, July 1, Mr. C. L. Harrison 

 speaks of some ears of corn higher than he 

 can reach. Well, on June 24, just 22 days 

 later, the man who has charge of my Flori- 

 da garden writes as follows : 



The corn is doing nicely. Each stalk has from 

 three to four ears on it. I think we shall have a 

 fine lot of corn to house. The velvet beans are 

 running up on the corn, but that does not seem to 

 hurt the corn. Wesley Welch. 



Bradentown, Fla., .June 24. 



MULCHING YOUR FRUIT-TREES AND OTHER 

 TRUCK. 



Our Ohio ExiDeriment Station at Wooster 

 has a block of fruit-trees mulched clear out 

 around as far as the limbs extend, and k*^pt 

 mulched the year round. The mulch is 

 heavy enough to keep down all the weeds 

 or grass". Well, adjoining this block of 

 trees is another one just like it, only the 

 ground is kept under cultivation. In other 

 respects the treatment of the trees is as 

 nearly alike as possible; but the mulched 

 trees ai'e far ahead, and have been ahead 

 for years in every respect. The difference 

 in vigor of the mulched trees is visible as 

 soon as one gets in sight of the orchard. 

 This matter was brought to mind by the 

 foUowing, which I clip from the National 

 Stockman and Farmer: 



Another word about mulching. It should le more 

 generally practiced. In driving over the country, 

 enormo'.is quantities of mulching material may be 

 seen here and there — old straw stacks, spoiled hay, 

 weeds, and grass growing in nooks and corners. 

 Why not utilize all of these materials for mulching 

 the strawberries, fruit-trees, brambles, currants, 

 gooseberries, asparagus, tomatoes, celery, and many 

 other horticultural crops? Bear in mind that a 

 heavy mulch conserves moisture better than the most 

 perfect tillage, and that the soil is enriched every 

 time you apply a mulch. There is satisfaction, too, 

 when you are busy harvesting the general farm 

 ciops in knowing that the mulched plantations are 

 not being neglected. Try mulching. 



Jt seems to be much the fashion, when 

 you commence making a garden, to make a 

 big bonfire of the trash; but it pains me 

 every time I see it. Everything that can be 

 burned itp is valuable for mulch. When I 

 protest they often tell me they want to burn 

 the weeds tliat may contain seed. My 

 friends, you do not need to worry a bit 

 about weeds and their seed, even docks. 

 Pile them ujd around your trees; and if the 



