GREEN FORAGE AND HAY CROPS 



121 



Sweet clover (Trifolium melilotus, Fig. 19) is grown as a 

 forage crop to a limited extent in some of the central and southern 

 States. It will grow on soils that are too poor in humus for the 

 successful production of either alfalfa or red clover. Sweet clover 

 may be used as hay, silage, soiling crop, or as a pasture for all 

 classes of farm animals. It must be cut before blooming, since 

 the plant rapidly becomes coarse and unpalatable to stock after 

 this stage. Owing to the presence of a bitter principle (cumarin) 

 in sweet clover, animals at first refuse to eat it, but appear to relish 

 the plant when once accustomed to it, whether in dry or succulent 

 form. Sweet clover stands next to cowpea hay and alfalfa in its con- 

 tent of crude and digestible protein, but is also somewhat higher in 

 fiber than other legumes. 



Average Composition of Leguminous Hays, in Per Cent 12 



Canada field peas (Canadian peas^isum sativum, var. arvense) 

 are grown extensively in the States along the northern border of 

 our country that are favored with fairly cool summer temperatures 

 and a moderate amount of precipitation. Although its culture in 

 this country is extending, we are still far behind Canada in taking 

 advantage of the possibilities of this crop. Field peas are grown 

 for seed or for forage as a soiling crop, for pasture, or cured as 

 dry forage. The seed makes a valuable rich grain feed for horses, 

 cattle, and sheep, and is generally fed mixed with oats, wheat 

 bran, etc. 



Peas are frequently grown in conjunction with oats as a soiling 

 crop for milch cows, or for pasturage for sheep and swine, for both 

 of which purposes it is of superior value. Large areas of peas 

 sown alone early in the spring at the rate of two bushels per acre, 

 with a small amount of wheat or oats, are grown in the northern 

 mountainous States for sheep and lamb feeding. These are turned 

 on to the land when the peas are ripe, and harvest both grain and 



12 Farmers' Bulletin 485 ; Michigan Circular 23. 



