404 THE CLOVERS 



Bed clover grown alone is not easy to cure into a good grade 

 of hay. It is apt to turn very dark in color, and, if the weather is 

 unfavorable, is apt to make very dusty hay. One important matter 

 to keep in mind is to preserve as far as possible the leaves and small 

 stems, as they are, pound for pound, worth about twice as much in 

 feeding value as large stems. 



Brown Hay. As clover hay is so difficult to cure when the 

 weather is wet, it is sometimes made into brown hay. By this 

 method the hay is put into stacks or barns when wilted. It soon 

 develops a high natural heat that prevents decay and soon dries it 

 out. The hay is a dark brown color, with a decided odor. There is 

 some loss in valuable feed material by this method, but it is con- 

 sidered quite satisfactory. The principal disadvantage is the large 

 amount of labor involved in handling green hay. 



Ensilage. Red clover is sometimes put in the silo, but, like most 

 legumes, does not make a first grade of silage if used alone. The 

 silage is likely to be somewhat soft and acid. It is usually better 

 to mix it with some grass crop for silage purposes. 



Pollination and Seed Production. It is well known that red 

 clover requires the agency of insects before it will produce seed. 

 This is due to the fact that pollination will seldom take place by 

 natural means. Experiments have frequently been tried by covering 

 clover plants with screens to keep out the insects. Under such con- 

 ditions, it is rarely that seed will be set. However, if bumblebees 

 are introduced under the screen, seed is readily developed. While 

 several insects produce pollination in clover, the bumblebee is recog- 

 nized as most important. Cross-pollination seems to be necessary in 

 clover, and bumblebees seem better adapted than other insects for 

 carrying the pollen from one plant to the other. 



The Seed Crop. The second crop is generally used for seed. 

 It is found that the second crop usually produces a larger yield of 

 seed, though the reason for this is not well known. Some think 

 that the hot summer weather favors seed production, and also that 

 there are more bumblebees at that time of year. The most im- 

 portant reason, however, for using the second crop for seed is that 

 practically two crops are obtained this way in a season, while if the 

 first crop is allowed to go to seed, the plant usually dies., and there is 



