214 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[June, 
valuable part of the food. In 40 days the amount 
of organic substance increased from 64 to 100 lbs.— 
just 36 lbs. But in this there was a gain of only 
1 lb. of albuminoids, while the crude liber increas¬ 
ed about 21 lbs., or nearly doubled. And during 
the last 19 days (June 13 to July 1) there was hard¬ 
ly any gain of albuminoids, although the crude 
fiber increased 61 lbs., and other carbo-hydrates 
5 lbs. These figures show most clearly that the 
older growth was far less valuable as compared 
with the younger, than the increased weight of 43 
lbs. would imply. Dr. ¥/agner calculated the 
money value of these crops,as based upon the nutri¬ 
tive values of the albuminoids and carbo-hydrates 
which each contained. Here are his figures: 
Table 8.—Clover Hat. Value. 
I.—Cut just before blossoming_ 85 Its. 72 cents. 
II.—Cut in full blossom.114 tbs. $1.05 cents. 
III.—Cut near ond of blossom..128 a>s. 94 cents. 
However theoretical these calculations may seem, 
they are doubtless not far out of the way as an 
expression of the relative values of the crop at the 
different cuttings. We may illustrate this very 
cleat ly by another consideration which we have 
previously discussed, namely, the digestibility of the 
different crops. How much of the material of 
these different crops would animals which consume 
them actually digest, and make over in flesh, fat, 
milk, etc., or utilize in other ways in their bodies ? 
Some experiments by Dr. Wolff, of the Station at 
Hohenheim, will aid us in answering this question. 
Four different portions of a clover field were 
mowed at as many different times, and the hay fed 
to sheep. Four experiments, with hay of different 
degrees of maturity, were thus made. During each 
the hay consumed by the animals, and the excre¬ 
ment voided, were carefully weighed and analyzed. 
Thus the proportions of each crop which the ani¬ 
mals digested, were learned. Below are the results : 
Table 9. 
Out of every irO lbs. of the 
following substances contain¬ 
ed in the clover cut at the. dif¬ 
ferent periods, the animals 
digested the number of pounds 
set under each, viz. : 
Time of Cutting the 
Clover. 
Organic 
Substance. 
la 
ss 
Crude 
Fiber. 
Fat or 
Oils. 
Ollier 
Carbo¬ 
hydrates. 
tbs. 
74. 
tbs. 
74. 
lbs. 
60. 
Ibs. 
65.2 
Tbs. 
82.7 
In beginning of blossom. 
68. 
76.1 
53. 
67. 
74.5 
In full blossom.. 
63.9 
64.S 
49.7 
61.2 
71.8 
Near end of blossom. 
5S.3 
58.6 
38.8 
41.5 
70.7 
It appears, then, that from every 100 lbs. of or¬ 
ganic substance in the young clover, the animals 
digested 75 lbs., or nearly three-fourths. As the 
clover grew older, it became less and less digest¬ 
ible, until in the most mature crop only 581 lbs., or 
little over one half, was digested. Taking the 
several ingredients of the organic substance sepa¬ 
rately, we find a similar decrease in digestibility 
as the plant matures. From every 100 lbs. of al¬ 
buminoids the animals digested in the youngest 
clover 74, and in the oldest only 5St lbs. The 
amount of crude fiber digested falls in like manner 
from 00 to 39 per cent.—Remember that all which 
was not digested was passed off as excrement. It 
was worthless for nutrition, and v/Ss useful only 
as manure. The youngest clover was nearly as 
digestible as meal or potatoes, while the oldest was 
but little more digestible than straw. 
Now apply these results to those obtained by Dr. 
Wagner, in Table 7, above. The 85 lbs. of hay of 
Plot I, cut just before the beginning of blossom, 
contained 64'/j lbs. of organic substance. Accord¬ 
ing to Table 9, 74 per cent of this, or 471 lbs., would 
be digestible. Comparing the other items in Tables 
7 and 9, we have the following results of Dr. Wag¬ 
ner’s crops of clover: 
Table 10. 
log 
<*£ 
sSl 
8)4 Rons Clover Cut. 
Sa- 
~ O>05 
O cq 
o'-« 
*.8 
§.! 
III 
fbs. 
Just before blossom. 
64.2 
74 
47.5 
72c. 
-Iu fall blossom. 
00.5 
68 
61.6 
105c. 
-Near end of blossom. 
102.2 
58 
69. S 
94e. 
To every one having grass or clover to harvest, 
such facts as these are very important. From May 
22d (I) to June 13th (II), there was an increase of 
29 lbs. of hay, including 26 lbs. of organic sub¬ 
stance. The digestibility, however, decreased from 
74 to 68 per cent during this time, so that the ac¬ 
tual gain of nutritive material was (614-—474) 14 lbs. 
But from June 13th (II) to July 1st (III), while 
there was a gain of 14 lbs. of hay and 114 lbs. of 
organic substance, the digestibility decreased 10 
per cent, so that there was not a gain, but an actual 
loss of (614—594) 24 lbs. of nutritive material. 
This makes a had showing for the older crops, but 
the case is, in fact, still worse. Table 7 tells us 
that the earlier crops contain the largest propor¬ 
tions of the albuminoids, and Table 9 that a larger 
percentage of these is digestible in the younger 
clover. It is clear then that the digestible material 
is richer in nitrogen, and hence worth more pound 
for pound in the younger than the older crops. 
We are then forced to the conclusion that, as far as 
the feeding value of the crop is concerned, the most 
profitable time for harvesting clover is a little before 
the period of full blossom. 
The experiments upon other grasses have not 
been as extensive, but so far as they have been 
made, as well as from analogy, we may adopt the 
same conclusions. And these results obtained by 
positive science, correspond with the experience 
of the most observing, intelligent, practical men. 
Another question of considerable importance 
must be considered. If the grass cut 20 days be¬ 
fore the close of blossoming is then at its highest 
feeding value, by cutting it thus early, we have 20 
days more for the aftergrowth, and this too at the 
period before the dryest, parching weather arrives. 
It is evident that there will be a much larger growth 
of aftermath than if the first cutting was delayed. 
We have not space to go into details, or to give ex¬ 
periments on this point. They are hardly needed. 
One objection, if not the only one, to early cut¬ 
ting of clover especially, may be named, viz.: 
clover roots gather much organic matter which 
enriches the soil for other crops, even when the 
clover itself is mowed for fodder. Experiment and 
observation seem to show that these roots continue 
to develop and enlarge up to the full maturity Of 
blossoming and seed—gathering an increasing 
amount of fertilizing material. When, therefore, 
the clover stubble is to be plowed under for other 
crops, the loss from later mowing is partly made 
up in the increase of roots and stubble. How much 
account is to be made of this, we have, as yet, not 
sufficient experiments and investigations to decide. 
Bee Notes. 
BY M, QUINSY, ST. JOHNSVILT.E, N. Y. 
Queen bees need a full development as well as cattle. 
Much discussion has been had relative to rearing queens 
in full stocks, or in small nuclei ; some claiming that a 
full stock is the most natural. It will not be discussed 
here, further than to say that a full supply of nutriment 
is required to rear good queens ; usually the least trouble 
and expense, where many queens are to he reared, is to 
make a little box to represent a movable-comb hive. 
Combs of full size of hive can be used on the same prin¬ 
ciple , the size makes but little difference, if there are 
nurse bees enough. It would seem that the Creator had 
designed especially to facilitate the increase of the best 
stock. In addition to the number of queens provided, 
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Among the domestic animals, we have various grades 
of improvement. Among horses and cattle, the various 
breeders find points in each grade that they wish to prop¬ 
agate for some particular purpose. They select parents 
that have points that they expect to find in their off¬ 
spring. The beautiful Durham is not expected from the 
wild race of the tropics. Among bees, the beautiful and 
amiable Italian is not expected from the black, vicious, 
and often more indolent native. Both varieties may 
have some traits that it is desirable to propagate, while 
both have some which might be advantageously left out. 
miiMf 
Fig. 1.— THE BROOD CUT OUT. 
One stock may possess vigor and industrious habits, and 
a disposition to resent any measure that seems to them 
an approach to robbing them of their stores. Another 
may bo too indolent to collect much, and lack energy to 
protect what they have. Accumulation of stores is what 
is usually wanted. If industrious habits and a mild dis¬ 
position are found combined, that is the breed lo propa¬ 
gate from. With most of us these traits arc only ascer¬ 
tained by close and attentive observation. Thirty 3 r ears 
ago an old lady, when asked to fix a price for one of her 
colonies, replied that she had smarter bees than any one 
else, they swarmed early and often ; she had probably 
discovered a fact, without being able to trace it to any 
cause. What is there to prevent changing all our stocks 
into the best in one summer, if all the queens are select¬ 
ed from such only f It is time this point received atten¬ 
tion. In rearing cattle, it will not do to check the 
growth by an insufficiency, or an inferior quality of food. 
Fig. 2.— THE BROOD FIXED IN THE COMB. 
when a swarm issues naturally, it is so arranged that they 
can be increased almost indefinitely. Eggs of a fertile 
queen are of two kinds—one produces males, the other 
females. Means of deciding which will produce drones, 
and which workers, are given to all observers, as one 
kind is deposited in worker cells, the other in drono 
cells. Whether the act of depositing the egg in the large 
or small cell decides the sex or not, will not now be dis¬ 
cussed. One thing is certain, the eggs deposited in 
worker cells that ordinarily would produce workers, can 
be.converted into queens. When young bees not many 
days old, are destitute of a queen, and are provided with 
eggs, or young brood, in season, they at once proceed to 
provide one or more. It is well to wait, before com¬ 
mencing to raise queens, until there is a prospect of 
diones hatching, as soon, at least, as the queens do. If 
bees to commence with can he procured a half mile 
away, it is better. Get a quart or thereabouts. Now, 
from the stock you wish to breed from, take a piece 
of comb containing brood. It is better to get it all 
of one age. The first or second day after the eggs are 
hatched, is best. Takeout the comb containing brood, 
and hold it so that the light shines directly into the bot¬ 
tom of the cells. Find a spot where the eggs are just 
hatched. Take such ; as queens will mature from them 
a little sooner than from eggs just laid. The larval that 
have been fed too long as workers, can not he so well 
developed into queens by nursing. New comb is better 
than old. If old and tough, cut off half the length of the 
cells with a knife. Cut out a piece the shape of fig. 1, 
3 or 4 inches long, by )<( an inch wide. Then cut from a 
larger piece—let it he clean—a place that this will just 
fit. Give an inch space under it, in the shape shown in 
fig 2. Let the piece of brood he crowded in firm enough 
to hold a few hours, until the hoes weld it fast. Combs 
should contain abundant honey for several days. If bees 
to raise the queens are to be taken from the home yard, 
they should he mostly young, if possible. Go to a strong 
stock in the middle of the day, when most of the old 
ones are out. to work, raise out a comb or two, and shake 
or brush the bees into a box, made with joints close 
enough to keep them when (lie lid is on. Young bees 
will not be apt to fly. Have a little piece of wire clotii 
one side somewhere, in hot weather, for ventilation. 
Make a hole in the bottom,of the box, in which the 
combs with the brood ready for the bees, are to he put, 
and one to match in the top of the one with bees. Open 
both and set the two together, and the bees will creep 
into tiie upper one with combs and brood. Keep con¬ 
fined for thirty-six hours or more, when they may ho 
allowed to fly out from the stand they are to occupy. 
More than one piece of brood can he put in the samo 
comb, if many arc wanted, and there are bees enough to 
take the proper care of it all. If brood that is taken for 
queens, is not over two days old from the egg, a queen 
