GRASSES AND CLOVER. 139 



Hoven, or Clover Bloat, and Slobbers. These are 

 both produced by clover, and the former sometimes becomes a 

 serious matter, as it is often fatal, and sometimes in a very 

 short time. I have known a cow to be milked and turned out 

 early in the morning* perfectly well, and to be found dead, from 

 this cause, before 9 o'clock. I shall not speak of the treatment 

 to relieve this, as that will be found in our veterinary depart- 

 ment, but will mention what I believe to be preventives. Ho- 

 ven is caused by fermentation instead of digestion of the green 

 food in the stomach, and is due to eating too large a quantity, 

 often imperfectly masticated, and is most liable to occur when 

 this is taken into the stomach early in the morning, when the 

 clover is covered with dew or frost. The danger will be greatly 

 lessened if the farmer has early pastures for the cattle to run 

 on, so as to become accustomed to green food before being 

 turned on the clover. When you first turn on the pasture, do 

 so in the afternoon of a clear day, when the clover is warm. 

 A straw stack in the field, or a little hay fed in the morning is 

 also said to be a preventive. The risk from this cause is cer- 

 tainly small, for I have had more or less clover on my farm 

 every year, and have not lost an animal in thirty-five years, 

 and have known of but few cases among my neighbors. This 

 leads me to think that mixed pasture is a preventive, for while 

 all of our farmers sow clover, most of them sow timothy or or- 

 chard grass with it, or have permanent pastures to turn on early. 



What is commonly called slobbers, is in reality a salivation, 

 somewhat similar to that produced by calomel. Cattle are I'.ot 

 affected by it, and horses from the second crop only. It is 

 said to be caused by an acid which is developed in the late 

 growth of the clover, particularly after the cool nights arrest the 

 rapid growth. While this can not be classed as a disease, it 

 does reduce the strength and flesh of the horse, and work 

 horses should not be allowed to run on clover after it reaches 

 the stage at which this effect is produced. 



