The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-09-06
THE SWEET CLOVER.
A Remarkable Growth That Is the Delight
of Council Bluns.

A Remarkable Growth That Is the Delight
of Council Biuns.
No one knows just how or where 1t
came from or why it came, but snowy
and sweet breathed intruder has come
into the city to dispute with the lordly
sunflower his long and undisputed title
of squatter sovereignty to all the vacant
lots and blocks in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
And the meek little blossoms on the sum-
mits of the sweet clover plants are look
ing upon the swift and certain destruc-
ton of the pioneer sunfower. Over one
third of the bottoms, where year ago
nothing but the gigantic resinous weed
turned its black and yellow face to the
sun, and where it grew in such luxury
that even the noxious cookie burr was
choked out of existence, the fragrant
sweet clover has appeared and holds un
disputed dominion over every other green
thing. Over hundreds of vacant lots in
the new additions the tiresome yellow
has given place to the dark, rich foliage
and fragrant perpetually blooming sweet
clover.
Local botanists who have examined
the new plant with good deal of in
terest and care say that it is positively
new species, produced by some unknown
and accidental cross, and that its vigor
and spreading proclivities are the most
wonderful features of its nature. The
old fashioned sweet clover was frail
and ghostly plant that loved the friend
ly shade of the groves and the longest
moonlight summer nights, a character
istic which made 1t proper love en-
blem, but this new and thrifty product
of Council Bluffs spurns the protection
of the trees and goes out boldly in the
fields and meets and copquers the sun
loving sunflower in his chosen grounds.
As foliage plant 1t is perhaps one of the
most remarkable in existence for its lux
uriance. In many respects it resembles
the alalfa clover, but it is stronger,
thriftier, and of much more rapid
growth than that remarkable plant that
furnishes three crops of hay a year in
western territories.
1t grows to the height of four or five
feet, with a dense leafy foliage and
perfect brush of sweet scented blossoms.
The leaf is small and juicy, of rich
dark green, very much resembling the
red clover. 1t is so new and its habits
so little understood that it is not known
what its value may be as forage plant
for stock. In its present rank character
stock will not eat it, but, tanned by re-
peated clipping and cultivation, it may
become one of the most valuable plants
to the stockmen and farmers.
But whether it has any value or not in
the development of beef and horsefesh,
1t is of inestimable worth to the people of
Council Bluffs as a swift destroyer and
fragrant substitute for the ubiquitous
suntiower, that has furnished provoca-
tion for so many sad reflections upon the
city, notwithstanding enthusiastic aes-
thetes have sought to popularize the
meek yellow crowned weed by painting
it on panels and wearing it on their bo-
SONS. 1t is lovely and lovable plant
SO sociable that it will come right up to
your doors and crowd its white head into
your windows, and so determined upon
having the company of its fellows that it
makes covenant with the soil that where
one plant grows this year thousands
must grow next. A year ago there was
perhaps not enough of the plant in the
entire city to cover half an acre; now
there are hundreds of acres densely COW
cred with it. The odor from the acres
of white flowers fills the air, and after
midsummer shower the peculiar and
delicate fragrance is indescribable, and
as sweet as the breath of peris.-Omaha