COMPOSITION OF COARSE FODDERS 267 



number of varieties of clover ; alsike, crimson, scarlet 

 and white clovers, all having about the same general 

 composition. Kach, however, has characteristic habits of 

 growth which makes it peculiarly adapted to certain soil 

 and climatic conditions. 



374. Alfalfa and Fodders Similar to Clover. Alfalfa 

 has somewhat the same general composition and feeding 

 value as clover, but its physical composition, as density 

 of tissue and proportion of leaves to stems is different. 

 It can be grown under different and more adverse climatic 

 conditions. All members of the leguminous or pulse 

 family, to which clover, alfalfa, peas, cow peas and vetch 

 belong, are characteristically rich in protein, and are 

 among the most valuable forage crops that can be pro- 

 duced. The discovery, by Heilreigel, of the unique 

 value of clover and other legumes in assimilating the free 

 nitrogen of the air by means of the action of micro-organ- 

 isms associated with the roots of these plants, and of the 

 use of leguminous crops in increasing the supply of nitro- 

 gen in the soil, is one of the greatest achievements of 

 agricultural chemistry. In Plate III, the arrow indicates 

 one of the nodules which contain the nitrogen-assimi- 

 lating organisms. 



375. Rape. The rape plant contains nearly as much 

 crude protein as clover hay. Because of the presence of 

 certain volatile oils, it cannot be fed to milk-cows with- 

 out imparting an unpleasant taste to the milk. Rape, 

 however, is valuable for the feeding of all growing and 

 fattening animals. 



