Evening journal., 1914-07-11

Is at least 8 per cent above the num-
Der last year, and, 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 win be made In July re-.
Earding honey production. and another
inquiry on the same subject win be
made later in the season. II is hoped
4 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 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 tho
department Of agriculture Glover
seed Of tho home saved variety in the
hull ls the best and surest to SOW,
since tho hull seems to hold a little
moisture and thereby reduces the
chance Of failure 10 get good stand.
Farmers are urged to save thier own
seed.
The clover win 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 lot II lie until slack time.
when II will be beaten out; or by haul
ing 70 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 "a ripe. select time
when the sun is likely to shine for sew
eral days, then NOW ia 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 ID
out. Pitch the dry clover hay on to 1t,
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 q little far
ther into the Geld, repeating the opera.
tion until the field is harvested, or suf-
hcient 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 hand IS not occupied
BY the ordinary summer grown crops.
In sections where II succeeds. crimson
clover can be sown following a grain
crop or in an intertilled crop in late
summer, and will mature a hay crop
the following spring in time to plow
the land for spring seeded crops, such
as corn or cotton.
It 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. Il may be turned under for soil
I Improvement when only six inches
high If It is desired to flt the land for
early spring-seeded crops. Even II only
the stubble be turned under. the effect
upon the succeeding crop win be
marked, especially II the soil be def
cient in nitrogenous fertilizers. The
plowing under Of the entire plant, how
ever, viii more rapidly correct any
deficiency Of nitrates or humus in the
soil
Most Of the soils In the crimson clo-
yer sections viii be found to be bene-
fted by limings Crimson clover, how.
ever, does not appear to require lime
TO the extent that red clover doas. Ere
quentiy on well-drained soils In a good
state Of fertility the crimson clover
makes a 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
70 whether or not it pays them to lime
tnelr soils for crimson clover. In con.
sidering the advisahiiity Of applying
line 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
| grown with the clover or follow IL