266 



AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY 



ripe, its protein content is between that of straw and 

 timothy hay. If cut or pastured while young, it has a 

 high feeding value. In this crop, the non- nitrogenous 

 compounds, particularly fiber, are formed at a rapid rate 

 in the last stages of growth. 



373. Clover Hay is characteristically rich in crude pro- 

 tein, containing nearly twice as much as poor grades of 

 timothy. It also contains less crude fiber and more ether 

 extract. The large amount of crude protein and other 

 nutrients makes it one of the most valuable fodders that 

 can be produced for growing, fattening, or milk-giving ani- 

 mals. There is no coarse fodder except alfalfa that has so 

 high a protein content as clover when grown and cured un- 

 der the best conditions. 

 Clover ash is of differ- 

 ent composition from 

 that of timothy. It 

 contains a small 

 amount of silica and a 

 CLOVER HAY large amount of lime, 



Fig. 86. Composition of a bale of clover hay. while timothy ash 



contains a large amount of silica and a relatively small 

 amount of lime. The nitrogen-free extract of clover is 

 largely pentose materials. The composition and com- 

 parative feeding value of early- and late-cut clover are 

 given in Section 351. In curing clover hay, it should be 

 the aim to prevent mechanical losses of leaves during the 

 handling of the crop. When clover hay is fed to stock, 

 less grain and milled products are required than when 

 hays of lower crude protein content are used. There are a 



ETHER EXT 



