SOILING CROPS 



285 



of no value for hay purposes, although for pasture it takes 

 high rank. 



d. AUike clover thrives well even on soil slightly acid, and 

 is little subject to diseases. The flowers are rose-tinged. 

 It thrives even on wet soils where it is impossible to get 

 a stand of red clover. Alsike grows later than red clover, 

 and usually gives only one crop in a season. It is a 

 perennial, however; and in feeding value for dairy cows, 

 weight for weight, it ex- 

 cels red clover by about 

 one sixth, ranking about 

 halfway between that 

 plant and alfalfa. It is 

 much easier to cure than 

 red clover, and the stems 

 are less woody. In 

 many sections it is 

 steadily growing in 

 favor. 



211. Soiling Crops. 

 The term soiling crops 

 has been explained a 

 little above. The word 



ALSIKE CLOVER. 



" soiling " in this phrase 

 does not refer to the 

 soil, as v <"- commonly use the word. During the dry 

 summer months, pasturage is likely to be poor, and flies 

 torment the cattle. When these conditions begin, the 

 milk flow falls off quickly. To prevent such loss, the 

 dairyman needs to keep his cattle in the barns, during 

 much of the day time, at least. He cannot well depend 

 upon hay and dry feed for them, however, when they 

 have just been on grass. So he needs soiling crops. 



The dry season varies somewhat from year to year ; and 



