36 CLOVERS 



It is considered inferior to timothy as a fodder 

 for horses. This preference is doubtless owing 

 largely to the fact, first, that clover breaks up more 

 and loses more leaves when being handled, espe- 

 cially when being transported ; and second, that clo- 

 ver is frequently cured so imperfectly as to create 

 dust from over-fermentation or through breaking of 

 the leaves, because of being over-dried, and the dust 

 thus created is prejudicial to the health of these ani- 

 mals. It tends to produce "heaves." This may in 

 part be obviated by sprinkling the hay before it is 

 fed. When clover is properly cured, it is a more 

 nutritious hay than timothy, and is so far preferable 

 for horses, but since timothy transports in much bet- 

 ter form, it is always likely to be more popular in 

 the general market than clover. The possibility 

 of feeding clover to horses for successive years 

 without any evils resulting is made very appar- 

 ent from feeding alfalfa thus in certain areas of the 

 West. 



Clover hay is specially useful as a fodder for 

 milk-producing animals, owing to the high protein 

 content which it contains. Dairymen prefer it to 

 nearly all kinds of fodders grown, and the same is 

 true of shepherds. When very coarse, however, a 

 considerable proportion of the stems is likely to be 

 left uneaten, especially by sheep. Because of this 

 it should be the aim to grow it so that this coarse- 

 ness of stem will not be present. This is accom- 

 plished, first, by growing it thickly, and second, by 

 growing the clovers in combination with one another 

 and also with certain of the grasses. 



