SOMETHING KEW. 153 



Swedish Clover. This is the common Alsike 

 Clover which a seed-peddler in Pennsylvania has 

 been selling at fancy prices, with the claim that -it 

 will furnish a permanent pasture on the most bar- 

 ren soils. It is described in nearly all the leading 

 works on agriculture and is known to be inferior in 

 most localities to the common red clover. 



Bohemian Oats. This name refers not so much 

 to a particular kind of oats as to a method of 

 selling. It represents probably the largest seed 

 swindle ever conducted in this country. The 

 farmer buys the oats at, usually, ten dollars a 

 bushel, giving his note therefor, and receiving a 

 bond from the company, binding it to purchase 

 back the crop, or a certain number of bushels, at a 

 high price. The bond is worthless, and the oats 

 grown are never called for, but the farmer's note is 

 sold at a neighboring bank, and the sharpers dis- 

 appear. Sometimes the seed oats sold are not even 

 delivered, but usually they are. They are seldom, 

 however, a valuable variety, and never come from 

 Bohemia, as represented. At one time the old 

 skinless oat was supplied under the name Bohemian 

 oat. This is a variety occasionally grown in 

 Europe, but of little value in this country. Gen- 

 erally the oats sold are obtained at a neighboring 

 mill, and are the common oats of the region, which 

 have been extra cleaned for the purpose. With no 



