88 A Modern Bee-Farm 
grown on sandy land where red clover will not thrive. But 
its greatest value is as a fertilizer, and as such is the best 
and cheapest known. It possesses more highly than any 
other leguminous plant, the power of conveying to the 
soil the nitrogen of the atmosphere. Its roots grow deeper 
into the soil than red clover, and are more numerous. It 
loosens stiff clay land, which, after a time, becomes as 
friable as if sand had been mixed with the soil. It has 
been shown by one of the Experiment Stations than an 
expenditure of 2.65 dols. on crimson clover as- a fertilizer 
put as much nitrogen into the soil as 15 dois. worth of 
nitrogen purchased in commercial fertilizers.” 
Every bee-keeper should bring the advantages to be 
derived from the growing of this clover before the notice 
of his farming neighbours. It will benefit them, and 
at the same time help largely to make his own success 
assured. 
Melilot Clover. 
In my own trials with this clover on several acres, the 
sowing was made in April, followed by a very dry summer. 
It soon rooted, however, and threw out strong shoots, 
which showed green all through the dry weather, supplying 
a never failing source of feed for the cows, while old- 
‘established meadows were almost bare. The following year 
it was mown in July, and together with the rye-grass sown 
with it, afforded a very heavy crop. The plant was rather 
coarse, and the haying time very wet, but after it had been | 
down some seven or eight days, just three hot days enabled 
me to get it dried and stacked. Notwithstanding the 
succulent nature of the plant and the wetting it had 
experienced, the hay came out as brown as a berry, and 
exceedingly sweet, though, of course, there was no bloom 
at the time of cutting. 
