HAT FROM BED CLOVER 237 



average composition of red clover forage in full 

 blossom is as follows: 



Clover, An average 



green One ton acre-yield Clover 



forage contains furnishes hay 



Per cent Lbs. Lbs. Per cent 



Water 70.80 20.80 



Dry matter 29.20 584 4,672 79.20 



Ether extract 1.10 22 176 4.50 



Fiber 8.10 162 1,296 21.90 



Protein . . .' 4.40 88 704 12 40 



Ash 2.10 42 336 6.60 



Nitrogen-free extract .... 13.50 270 2,160 33.80 



Bed clover hay 



The one very great advantage of clover as forage 

 is that, if not needed as a supplementary green 

 food, it makes good hay. Clover hay is one of the 

 best kinds for dairy purposes. However, it is liable 

 to considerable loss in harvesting, unless great 

 care is used, owing to the rapidity with which the 

 leaves dry and to their tendency to fall in curing 

 and housing. If cut when about one -third of the 

 bloom has disappeared, it will contain very much 

 less moisture than when cut earlier, and still 

 retain a large proportion of leaves if carefully 



handled. 



Clover should be cut when free from dew or 

 other moisture, and allowed to wilt, then raked 

 into windrows, and put up into cocks and cured 

 in this way, rather than be allowed to lie in the 



