(49) 



It should always be borne in mind that clover hay will 

 not shed rain. When stacked out in the field, it should 

 either be thatched or have a thick top-covering of wheat 

 straw or other hay. The tedder is thought by many to be 

 indispensable in saving good clover hay. Unquestionably 

 it is of great service, and the hay made by the use of the 

 tedder in dry, hot weather, is superior to that made without; 

 but good hay can be and is made by many farmers who 

 never saw a tedder. Clover hay is more difficult to cure 

 than hay from any of the real grasses, and this -arises from 

 the fact that it contains more water than other grasses in 

 the proportion of 8 to 7. For this reason also, it is more 

 difficult to keep, being more liable to heat in the mow. It 

 will not bear handling or transportation, and while it will 

 always be a favorite hay for home consumption, it will 

 never be valuable for market purposes. For horses good 

 grass hay is probably better than clover, because it is more 

 digestible, and is not so liable to produce colic. On the 

 other hand, clover is a superior hay for cattle, producing in 

 milk cows a fine flow of milk. 



The following table, compiled from analyses made by 

 Wolff, Koop and Way, will exhibit the comparative value 

 of clover and grass hays: 



