Leguminous Plants for Green Forage and Hay. 185 



may cause a temperature of 133 F., and this leads to a higher one 

 of about 194 F. When this temperature is reached, the hay heats 

 still more and charring goes on rapidly. All these processes together 

 destroy at least half of the material present. According to tests, 

 clover hay will ignite at 302 to 392 F. Therefore the tempera- 

 ture may become sufficiently high for spontaneous combustion, 

 which is indicated by the hay becoming darker in color and finally 

 black, by sooty odors, and by smoke. It is probable, tho not cer- 

 tain, that spontaneous combustion does not occur in partially dried 

 clover or grass even if quite damp, provided it carries only its own 

 natural moisture. Spontaneous combustion generally, and possibly 

 always occurs in stored or stacked hay that carries external moisture 

 in the form of dew or rain. The trouble is best avoided by never 

 placing hay material in stack or barn when it carries excessive 

 moisture or is wet with dew or rain. When curing hay heats dan- 

 gerously high it should be compacted and covered with other mate- 

 rial and all other possible means taken to shut out the air. Rarely 

 are the arrangements for putting out fires by water sufficient or 

 available. 



254. Use of clover. Clover hay is successfully and economically 

 used in many cases with both farm and city horses. Mr. T. B. 

 Terry, 1 the well-known farmer-writer, maintained a team of farm 

 horses for several years on clover hay with no grain allowance of 

 any kind. There are instances of successfully managed livery stables 

 feeding clover hay to driving horses. Only the best grades should 

 be used and the animals gradually accustomed to this roughage. (439) 



No investigations of the experiment stations in cattle feeding 

 have been more helpful than those showing the great value of the 

 legumes, including clover hay, for fattening cattle. By adding 

 clover hay to the ration the grain required by the fattening steer 

 can be materially reduced and the fattening period shortened 

 both matters of great importance in these days of high-priced con- 

 centrates. (546-7, 554) 



For the cow, clover hay is one of the best of all roughages. It 

 furnishes the large amount of crude protein so essential to milk 

 production, and is palatable and much relished. Clover hay is un- 

 usually rich in lime, which is needed by the cow in large quantity, 

 and is often otherwise supplied in but meager amount in her feed. 

 Where well-cured clover hay furnishes one-half or two-thirds of 

 the roughage, the dairyman is able to cut down the allowance of 



1 Our Farming. 



