SWEET CLOVEi^ 303 



nized, and the same is probably true of it as bee pas- 

 ture, although many bee-keepers are alive to its 

 great merit for such a use. 



This plant does not seem to find much favor with 

 many. The United States Department of Agricul- 

 ture has spoken of it as a "weedy biennial, concern- 

 ing which extravagant claims have been made." 

 The laws of some States proscribe it as a weed, and 

 impose penalties directed against any who allow it 

 to grow. Legislatures should be slow to class a 

 legume as a weed, especially one that has much 

 power to enrich soils. The author cherishes the 

 opinion that this plant has a mission in the economy 

 of agriculture and of considerable importance to 

 farmers, especially in soils that are poor and worn, 

 as soon as they come to understand it properly. 



Distribution. — Sweet clover is probably indig- 

 enous to the semi-arid regions of Asia. The name 

 Bokhara would seem to indicate as much, but it is 

 also found in many parts of Europe, and if the 

 facts were known, was doubtless brought from 

 Europe to North America by the first settlers. For 

 many decades it has been represented in many flower 

 gardens in all parts of the country. 



The plant will endure almost any amount of cold 

 when it is once established. It has stood well the 

 winters of Manitoba. It can also endure extreme 

 summer heat, since it thrives well in some parts 

 of Texas. It grows most vigorously where the rain- 

 fall is abundant, as in Western Oregon, and it makes 

 a strong growth in the dry areas of Western Kan- 

 sas and Nebraska. 



