186 FEEDS AND FEEDING, ABRIDGED 



been abandoned on account of failure to secure stands. Such ''clover 

 sickness" of the soil may be due to certain diseases, but in most cases 

 it means that lime, phosphate, and possibly potash are needed. Farm- 

 ers who willingly prepare fields thoroly for alfalfa often fail to make 

 reasonable efforts to get good stands of clover. 



Red clover for hay. — Clover yields the largest amount of hay per 

 acre, and also more crude protein, nitrogen-free extract, and fat when 

 cut at full bloom. After this period only the fiber increases, the other 

 nutrients growing less, due to the withering and dropping of the lower 

 leaves and the leaching of the plants by rains. This shrinkage of 

 nutrients as clover matures is similar to that in the smaller grasses 

 and opposite to what occurs in the corn crop. While full bloom is 

 theoretically the best time to cut clover for hay, practical experience 

 shows that it is best to wait until about one-third of the blossom heads 

 have turned brown. This is because at any earlier date the plant is 

 so soft and sappy that it is difficult to cure it into good hay. Delaying 

 until all the heads are dead makes haying still easier, but means a 

 poor, woody, unpalatable product. 



Clover for hay. — Well-cured clover hay, bright and with leaves in- 

 tact, is an excellent roughage for all farm stock. Tho dusty clover 

 hay is to be avoided for feeding horses, that of good quality is suc- 

 cessfully and economically used with both farm and city horses. 

 Mixed clover and timothy hay is preferred by many to clear clover hay 

 for horse feeding, since it usually is freer from dust. 



No investigations of the experiment stations in animal husbandry 

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

 legumes for fattening cattle and sheep. By adding clover hay to the 

 ration, the grain requirement can be materially reduced and the fat- 

 tening period shortened — both matters of great importance in these 

 days of high-priced concentrates. For the cow, clover hay is unex- 

 celled as a roughage, unless by alfalfa. Where well-cured clover hay 

 furnishes one-half or more of the roughage, the dairyman is able to 

 cut the allowance of concentrates and materially reduce the cost of the 

 ration. This roughage has the same high place for feeding breeding 

 ewes, wintering cattle, and especially for young animals. Early-cut 

 clover hay ranks next to alfalfa for swine, being especially valuable 

 for breeding stock. 



Clover for pasture, soilage and silage. — Clover pasture is helpful 

 and important for all farm animals. It about maintains pigs, so that 

 all the grain fed goes to make gain. Pigs on clover are healthy and 

 have good bone and constitution — points of special importance with 

 breeding stock. Tho there is somewhat less danger from bloat with 

 clover than alfalfa, cattle and sheep should not be turned on clover 



