The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-07-24


is at least per cent above the num-
Der last year, and, taken as a 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 up-to-date beekeepers to furnish |
reports on the honey crop In order
that the estimates may be approxi, |
mately correct and therefore of real
value to honey producers and others
interested.
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 little
moisture and thereby reduces the
chance of failure to get a good stand.
Farmers are urged to save thier own
seed.
THE clover will soon be ripe and
| few farmers will endeavor to save the
| seed in a small way by stripping the
heads; by hauling the ripe hay to a
shed and let it lie until slack time,
when 1t will be beaten out; or by haul
ing to a scaffold made of boards with
cracks between, or stretching poultry
| wire over a 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 NOW In the morning,
while the dew is yet on the clover. Let
it lie without being disturbed until the
next noon. Take a 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-
fcient 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 it's crop during the
t season when the land is not occupied
by the ordinary summer grown crops.
: In sections where it succeeds, crimson
r clover can be sown following a grain
: crop OF in an intertilled crop in late
summer, and will mature hay crop
: the following spring in time to pillow
7 the land for spring seeded crops, such
] as corn or cotton.
4 1t may even be held for seed as far
t north as central Delaware and the
stubble be plowed under in time for
3 seeding the understanding strains OF
( corn It may be turned under for soil
a improvement when only six inches
f high if it is desired to fit the land for
: early spring-seeded crops. Even If only
J, the stubble be turned under, the effect
y upon the succeeding crop will be
: marked, especially if the soil be def
: cient in heterogeneous fertilizers. The
l. blowing under of the entire plant, how
= ever, will more rapidly correct any
d deficiency of nitrates or humus in tn,
" soil.
n Most Of the soils in the crimson clio
r, yer sections will be found to be bene
y flied by lining. Crimson clover, how
5, ever, does not appear to require limt
3 to the extent that red clover does. Ere
n quently on well-drained soils in a goot
is state of fertility the crimson Glove
a makes a vigorous growth without tn,
use of lime. The stands are, however
e usually more uniformly good over tn
r lined parts of such fields than on thu
6, parts that have received no lime. TIL
n opinion among individual farmers az
i'd pears to be about equally divided a
2, to whether or not it pays them to linn
o. their soils for crimson clover. In con
al sidering the advisability of applying
tn lime one must not lose sight Of tn
It, need of lime on the part of such othe
crops as cantaloupes or peaches. whic
to require lime and which are eithe
es grown with the clover or follow 1t.