CLOVEli 
195 
Great Lakes. From Michigan southward 
to Ohio there has been an immense increase 
in the acreage. Within 10 years it has 
been estimated that the area of alsike 
clover under cultivation has increased ten 
to twenty-fold. In perhaps one-half of 
the fields alsike is mixed with timothy, in 
one-quarter with red clover, and in the re¬ 
maining quarter alsike is grown by itself. 
In Michigan and some other States there 
would be no clover honey if it were not for 
alsike, since white clover has disappeared 
to a great extent. In the eastern States 
the culture of alsike has also spread very 
rapidly; for instance, in Lancaster County, 
Pa., about 10 years ago the hay crop con¬ 
sisted chiefly of alsike mixed with timothy; 
today three-fourths of the hay is alsike, as 
it is almost impossible to get a stand with 
red clover. Beekeeping is greatly benefited 
by the change, as there are practically no 
other honey plants of importance in this 
locality; and beekeepers declare that if the 
farmers should stop sowing alsike they 
would be compelled to stop keeping bees. 
Here the seed dealers are all encouraging 
the sale of alsike seed to the exclusion of 
that of red clover. In Kentucky and Ten¬ 
nessee it is highly prized for hay and pas¬ 
turage and its cultivation is steadily in¬ 
creasing. In Tennessee it is replacing red 
clover since there is a greater certainty of 
getting a good stand. While it will grow 
with less lime in the soil than red clover, 
it responds favorably to the addition of 
lime both in growth and in the secretion of 
nectar. In Virginia alsike is growing, too, 
in favor with the farmers. There it endures 
well adverse conditions of weather, and is 
so much better adapted for grazing pur¬ 
poses that it should be a constituent part 
of all grazing mixtures. In the West al¬ 
sike is very successful in the irrigated val¬ 
leys of the Rocky Mountains and in the 
regions of the Pacific Ocean. 
It is generally conceded that alsike clover 
yields nectar more freely, and is a more 
reliable honey plant than white clover. An 
acre of alsike has been estimated to be 
worth two or three of white clover, but 
this does not appear to hold true in all 
localities. The honey is so similar that it 
is doubtful if one can be distinguished 
from the other. It has been observed over 
and over again that apiaries in the imme¬ 
diate vicinity of alsike clover will yield 
more honey per colony than those having 
access to only white clover even in great 
abundance. A field of 20 acres of alsike 
will take care of 50 colonies of bees very 
well, provided it is supplemented by white 
clover in the vicinity. The period of bloom 
of alsike is also much longer than that of 
white clover, lasting when pastured nearly 
all summer. While alsike, as a rule, does 
not yield a heavy second crop, the late 
bloom is of great value. During the first 
year it seldom makes a heavy growth, not 
attaining its full luxuriance until the sec¬ 
ond and third year. 
The fact that alsike clover is replacing 
the red species in so many localities is of 
much importance to American beekeepers. 
Consider how many localities would be lit¬ 
erally transformed if red clover were re¬ 
placed by alsike. Beekeepers should take 
advantage of this steady movement in the 
right direction, and, in addition to preach¬ 
ing the gospel of sowing alsike, should 
offer to pay a part of the cost of the seed. 
At Medina, Ohio, it has been the practice 
for some years to furnish seed to farmers 
at half price provided that the fields, where 
it was sown, were within half a mile of one 
of the beeyards; while it has been sup¬ 
plied free to those who would sow it only 
a few rods away. As a result of this pol¬ 
icy the acreage within half a mile of the 
apiaries has been very greatly increased. 
The amount of clover honey obtained has 
become noticeably larger, and less feeding 
of sugar in the fall has been found neces¬ 
sary. After alsike has once been intro¬ 
duced it is self-sowing, and springs up 
where the other clovers fail to make a 
satisfactory growth. It is soon widely 
scattered thru the fields, improving the 
quality of the hay and increasing the 
quantity of honey. After a few years it 
will not be necessary to supply the seed 
free, for the farmers will have learned 
from experience that the crop is so valu¬ 
able that they will be willing to buy the 
seed for themselves. Care should be taken 
to ascertain that the land on which the 
seed is to be sown is suitable for the 
growth of this clover. The honey flow will 
be much prolonged if the alsike is sown 
with timothy or some other forage crop, 
since when sown alone it is often cut two 
