SWEET CLOVER 311 



growth, and because of the early season at which 

 it must be harvested for hay. From 3 to 4 or 5 tons 

 may thus be obtained in many instances from the 

 two cuttings. 



Securing Seed. Nearly all of the seed sown 

 in this country is imported. The author has not 

 been able to obtain information with reference to 

 growing seed within the United States; hence, the 

 inference is fair that but little of it has been grown 

 for that purpose up to the present time. Since, 

 however, it seeds freely, and since the price of seed 

 is high, seed crops, more especially when the plants 

 are also utilized as bee pasture, ought to prove remu- 

 nerative in the hands of judicious growers. 



The seed crop is obtained usually, if not always, 

 the second year after the sowing. If cut for hay 

 before coming into bloom, it will grow up again 

 and bear seed profusely. This would seem prefer- 

 able on strong soils, as it would prevent that rank- 

 ness in growth which would militate against abun- 

 dant seed production, and which would add much 

 to the labor of handling the crop. 



The seed crop may be cut and handled in sub- 

 stantially the same way as medium red clover when 

 grown for seed. It may also be cured and thrashed 

 essentially in the same way. (See page 105.) The 

 author has not been able to obtain information with 

 reference to the average yield of the seed crop under 

 American conditions. The seed, like that of the 

 medium red variety, should weigh 60 pounds per 

 bushel. 



Renewing. In the sense of a pasture or hay 



