Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1914-07-30

DeT thst year, ana, taken as WHOLE
the condition of the colonies is equal
to that of last year; but the condition
Of nectar plants in these, states is re-
ported as not quite SO good as last
year. due partly to late spring and
partly to loss of clover from the
drought in some sections.
An inquiry will be made in July re-
garding honey production, and another
inquiry on the same subject will be
made later in the season. 1t is hoped
in the meantime to secure the agree
ment of large number Of experienced
and uptodate beekeepers to furnish
reports on the honey crop in order
that the estimates may be approx
mately correct and therefore of real
value to honey producers and others
interested.
Save your home grown crimson
clover seed is the advice given to
farmers by clover specialists of the
department of agriculture. Glover
seed of the home saved variety in the
hull is the best and surest to SOW,
since the hull seems to hold q little
moisture and thereby reduces the
chance of failure to get good stand.
Farmers are urged to save thier own
seed.
THE clover will soon be ripe and a
few farmers will endeavor to save the
seed In small way by stripping the
heads; by hauling the ripe hay to a
shed and let 1t lie until slack time,
when 1t will be beaten out; or by haul
ing to scaffold made of boards with.
cracks between, or stretching poultry
wire over frame and failing the
seeds out, allowing the seeds to fall
through where they can be gathered
up"
The following simple method for
saving crimson clover seed will prove
practical and economical and is recon-
mended by the department:
After the clover is ripe, select time
when the sun is likely to shine for sew
eral days, then NOV in the morning,
while the dew Is yet on the clover. Let
1t lie without being disturbed until the
next noon. Take tarpaulin or large
wagon sheet to the field and spread it
out. Pitch the dry clover hay on to it,
stir with forks, shake the seed out and
throw the straw back on the land.
When the seed that are near by are
saved, drag the tarpaulin little far
Their into the field, repeating the opera
ton until the field is harvested, or suf-
ficient seed is secured for the next
falls sowing. The seed thus secured
can be placed In bags from time to
time.
Probably the most important charac-
teristic Of crimson clover is its ability
to grow and make its crop during the
season when the land is not occupied
by the ordinary summer grown crops.
In sections where 1t succeeds. crimson
clover can be sown following a grain
crop or in an intertilled crop in late
summer, and will mature hay crop
the following spring in time to pillow
the land for spring seeded crops, such
as corn or cotton.
1t may even be held for seed as far
north as central Delaware and the
stubble be plowed under in time for
seeding the quick-maturing strains of
corn. 1t may be turned under for soil
improvement when only six inches
high if it is desired to fit the land for
early spring-seeded crops Even If only
the stubble be turned under, the effect
upon the succeeding crop will be
marked, especially if the soil be def
cient in heterogeneous fertilizers. The
blowing under of the entire plant, how
ever, will more rapidly correct any
deficiency of nitrates or humus in the
soil.
Most of the soils in the crimson clo-
yer sections will be found to be bene-
fitted by lining. Crimson clover, how
ever, does not appear to require lime
to the extent that red clover does. Free
quently on well-drained soils In a good
state of fertility the crimson clover
makes vigorous growth without the
use Of lime. The stands are, however,
usually more uniformly good over the
lined parts Of such fields than on the
parts that have received no lime. The
opinion among individual farmers ap-
pears to be about equally divided as
to whether or not it pays them to lime
their soils for crimson clover. In con-
sidering the advisability of applying
lime one must not lose sight Of the
need OF lime on the part of such other
crops as cantaloupes or peaches, which
require lime and which are either
srown with the clover Or follow it !,