182 SHEEP FARMING IN AMERICA 



Of the two, brome grass (Bromus inermis) is by far 

 the better, yielding more grazing and being better 

 relished by the stock. Indeed this brome grass is 

 one of the best pasture grasses we have and of easy 

 culture, though it should always be sown in connec- 

 tion with some clover, else it fails to yield as it 

 should. 



Eed clover and alfalfa should not be mixed to- 

 gether. If they are the red clover having the habit 

 of more vigorous growth at first crowds badly its 

 slower neighbor. It is wise, however, to put about 

 10 per cent of alfalfa seed in all clover mixtures 

 sown on suspected alfalfa soil, for the small amount 

 of alfalfa will infect the field with the alfalfa bac- 

 teria so that in after years it may be all profitably 

 sown to alfalfa alone. 



DANGER FROM CLOVER AND ALFALFA PASTURE. 



Sheep grazing leguminous crops often suffer from 

 hoven, or bloat, caused by the fermentation of the 

 tender leaves within the paunch. The greatest dan- 

 ger of this is when the clover is young and tender 

 and growing rapidly. 



After alfalfa becomes woody there is not much 

 danger from bloating. Nor is there so much danger 

 when grasses are mixed with the clovers in the pas- 

 ture. After sheep become accustomed to eating the 

 clovers, they have then learned somewhat by in- 

 stinct how much to store within. Pasturing on clo- 

 vers is never absolutely safe, yet certain simple 

 rules will almost always prevent trouble. 



