MISCELLANEOUS VARIETIES OF CLOVER 343 



seed is required, but usually the seed is sown broad- 

 cast. In the hulled form, in which the seed is more 

 commonly sold, according to Professor H. H. Hume, 

 the measured bushel weighs 60 to 64 pounds, and 

 with the hulls on, from 10 to 40 pounds, the aver- 

 age weight, as purchased by dealers, being about 

 20 pounds. The cleaned seed bears considerable 

 resemblance to clover seed. 



All kinds of farm stock, as cattle, horses, mules, 

 sheep and even swine, are said to do well when graz- 

 ing on beggar-weed pastures in the summer and 

 autumn. They do not usually graze it closely after 

 it has been well started, owing to the woody char- 

 acter of the stems. When thus cropped back, it 

 starts out afresh, and thus continues to produce 

 grazing until the arrival of frost. It is said that 

 the pasture is of but little value in winter. One 

 strong point, however, in favor of such pastures, is 

 the ability of the plants to re-seed the land when 

 not grazed too closely, and thus to perpetuate the 

 grazing from year to year. 



No little diversity of opinion exists as to the value 

 of this plant for producing hay. Some growers 

 speak highly of its palatability and nutrition. 

 Others speak of it as being of very little value as a 

 hay plant. This difference in opinion is doubtless 

 due largely to cutting the crop at different stages 

 of growth. If allowed to become too advanced 

 before it is cut, the woody character of the hay 

 would doubtless make it unpalatable, whereas, if cut 

 early, at least as early as the showing of the first 

 blooms, if not, indeed, earlier, it would be eaten 



