will make a fair growth on those soils in their present condition. The acreage of sweet clover probably will increase in the New England States, where it should prove of value as pasturage and as a soil-improving crop on soils where red clover no longer can be grown. Sweet clover grows abundantly in the limestone regions of northwestern New York.

A much larger acreage of sweet clover is grown in northern Illinois than in any other of the eastern North-Central States. The conditions in the western North-Central States and in the Mountain States appear to be particularly adapted to this crop. It is in that part of the country that the largest acreage is found, and, with the exception of the limestone regions of the South, that the least difficulty is experienced in obtaining a stand.

In those parts of the Mountain and Pacific Coast States, especially Utah, where it has not been tested carefully or where red clover or alfalfa can be grown successfully, sweet clover is looked upon as a weed. It may rightly be considered a weed in the irrigated regions of the West and Northwest, where it grows luxuriantly on ditch Banks. The dissemination of this plant in all parts of the country has been hastened by beekeepers who have seeded it in waste places for the production of honey.

CLIMATIC ADAPTATIONS.

Sweet clover is adapted to a wider range of climatic conditions than any of the true clovers and possibly alfalfa; in fact, it may be grown successfully in any portion of the United States except, perhaps, Florida, and in Florida trials with biennial yellow sweet clover, annual sweet clover, and Melilotus suaveolens have been successful. Apparently neither the high temperatures of the South nor the cold winters of the North severely affect the plants, provided there is sufficient moisture in the soil. Comparatively little winterkilling is experienced in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and North Dakota when the seed is sown in close drills or broadcasted. Although approximately 50 per cent of the sweet clover seeded in rows 3 feet apart at Moccasin, Mont., was killed by the unusually severe winter of 1915-16, no winterkilling was noted in plats seeded in close drills.

Sweet clover thrives in the more humid parts of the country, as well as in the semiarid regions where the rainfall is but three-fifths of that required for the normal growth of such crops as red clover and timothy. In the semiarid regions of the West sweet clover has proved to be somewhat more drought resistant than alfalfa.

REQUIREMENTS FOR OBTAINING A STAND.

The requirements for obtaining a stand of sweet clover are somewhat exacting. It is for this reason that so many failures have been experienced. It must not be assumed, because sweet clover is found growing luxuriantly in many waste places and on uncultivated land, that a stand may be obtained by planting it at any time of the year, in any manner, and under all conditions. Throughout the eastern and southern portions of the country, with the exception of a few regions rich in limestone, much care must be used in the preparation of the seed bed, the selection of seed, and the manner of seeding if success is to be expected. For this reason it is necessary to understand fully the requirements for obtaining and maintaining a successful stand.

SOILS SUITABLE FOR SWEET CLOVER.

Sweet clover thrives on the adobe and granitic soils of the Pacific coast; upon the gumbo, hardpan, prairie, and sandy soils of the western North-Central States; and upon the heavy clay, loam, limestone, and sandy soils of the South and East. In fact, it has been grown successfully on all the principal soil types of the United States where the soils were not acid and were well inoculated. It grows luxuriantly on the Selma chalk (rotten-limestone) soils of Alabama and upon soils rich in calcium carbonate in many parts of the country where the lack of nitrogen and humus has caused large numbers of farms to be abandoned. The plants thrive on newly exposed heavy clay soils and upon steep embankments where little else will grow. Sweet clover is more tolerant of poor drainage, overflow, and seepage conditions than alfalfa. In irrigated sections, especially where the reservoir system is in use, large bodies of land are likely to become useless for the growth of alfalfa because of the rising of the water table. On such areas sweet clover will make a vigorous growth. However, maximum growth is to be expected only on well-drained soil.

Sweet clover will do well on many soils which are not fertile enough to grow red clover or alfalfa, and it is on these soils that it will prove most valuable. Like many other plants, it makes its best growth on fertile soils rich in calcium carbonate, although it will make sufficient growth on poor soils which are not acid to warrant planting it on them. Many hilly pastures may profitably be seeded to sweet clover. It will not only make a valuable addition to the forage of these pastures but will improve the soil so that grasses will grow more abundantly. Some of the best pastures in the Middle West are composed of bluegrass, timothy, and sweet clover.

RESISTANCE TO ALKALI.

Sweet clover grows successfully on soils in the West which apparently are too alkaline for grains or alfalfa. The Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station reports that it has obtained good yields of sweet clover on seepage land which is so strongly alkaline that no other plants except some of the native grasses will survive, while the California Agricultural Experiment Station found that sweet clover will withstand alkali to a remarkable degree. Prof. F. S. Harris, agronomist of the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station at Logan, claims that it is one of the most alkali-resistant crops grown in Utah, and that in and 1913 and 1914 quite an industry developed in some parts of that State in growing sweet clover for hay and seed on land too alkaline for other crops.

In reply to a circular letter on the culture of sweet clover, approximately 100 county agents and extensive growers of this crop located in many parts of the West state that this plant is one of the most alkali-resistant plants grown in their respective districts. In Crook County, Oreg., a good stand was obtained from April seeding in 1915 on a 20-acre demonstration field of sandy loam bottom land so strongly alkaline from black alkali that only salt grass was growing on it before it was planted to sweet clover. This field pastured from 18 to 28 head of calves, cows, and horses from June 1 to October 1 without being irrigated. Sweet clover generally will grow on soils where salt grass[6] will survive, and it is very much superior to this grass as pasture. After the drainage of water-logged land on which there is a surface accumulation of alkali, it is the common practice in parts of Utah to grow sweet clover for several years before planting alfalfa. It is often stated that alkali land will grow less tolerant crops after sweet clover has been grown on it for a few years. The long roots will open up the subsoil and cause better drainage, thereby affording an excellent means for removing the salts from the soil, as they are readily soluble in water.