PLANT GROWTH AT DIFFERENT STAGES 249 



compounds are formed more rapidly and in advance of 

 the non-nitrogenous ones. At the time of early bloom, 

 about 37 per cent, of the total nitrogenous compounds 

 have been formed, but the crop at this stage of develop- 

 ment has only 31 per cent, of the total organic com- 

 pounds produced during growth. When clover is very 

 young, before the flower head is visible, only about 10 

 per cent, of the organic compounds have been produced, 

 but this organic matter is rich in nitrogenous compounds 

 as it contains about 15 per cent, of the total amount 

 assimilated by the crop; a large share of this nitrogen, 

 however, is in the form of amide compounds. The com- 

 position of the leaves and stems, at the different stages 

 of growth, show that, at first, the leaves contain about 

 2.5 times as much nitrogenous matter as the stems, 

 while at maturity, there is less than twice as .much. 

 At the time of full bloom, the largest amount of nitroge- 

 nous matter is present, and it is then in the form of pro- 

 teids to the extent of about 88 per cent. In the last 

 stages of growth, there is also a notable increase in the 

 content of crude fiber. The differences in composition 

 and feeding value between clover, cut and cured in full 

 bloom, and at maturity are as follows: 



Clover at full bloom. 



1. The crop contains less fiber 4. The nutrients in the crop are 



than when mature. more evenly distributed. 



2. The crop contains its maxi- 5. The crop contains its maxi- 



mum amount of proteids. mum amount of essential 



3. A smaller yield per acre is oils, which impart palata- 



secured than at maturity, bility. 



but the crop is more con- 6. The nutrients in the clover 



centrated in protein. are more digestible. 



