8 



FARMERS BULLETIN 820. 



there was but a scant growth of red clover on the plats, while the 

 sweet clover produced an abundance^ of forage, and during this 

 period of the experiment the pigs pasturing on sAveet clover made a 

 net gain of $16.14 per acre more than those pasturing on red clover 

 and $17.41 per acre more than those pasturing on rape. (Table I.) 

 The difference in net profits probably would have been greater had 

 white sweet clover been used instead of yellow sweet clover, as it 

 makes a larger growth and contains approximately the same ratio 

 of food elements. 



TABLE I. Relative merits of Dwarf Essex rape, red clover, and yellow sweet 

 " clover wlien pastured by spring pigs for 141 days, June 22 to November 10, 

 1910. 



1 Corn valued at 50 cents per bushel, meat meal at $2. .50 per hundredweight. 



the time, a limited ration of corn was 



2 Hogs valued at $6 per hundredweight. 



s During the first 84 days of the test, practically two-thirds of 



ven, while during the last 57 days the pigs received a full feed. 



The pigs pasturing on sweet clover received meat meal only during the last 57 days of the experiment. 



An experiment reported by the New Jersey Agricultural Experi- 

 ment Station shows that a mixture of rape and sweet clover makes an 

 exceptionally fine pasture for hogs. In this experiment the mixture 

 of rape and sweet clover produced more pasturage than alfalfa and 

 was preferred to alfalfa by the hogs. It was seeded at the rate of 6 

 pounds of Dwarf Essex rape and 10 pounds of sweet clover to the 

 acre. 



Sheep relish sweet clover and make rapid gains when pastured on 

 it. Care must be taken to see that pastures are not overstocked with 

 sheep, as they are likely to eat the plants so close to the ground as to 

 kill them. This is especially true the first year, before the plants 

 have formed crown buds. Yellow biennial sweet clover probably 

 would not suffer from this cause as much as the white species, be- 

 cause the plants make a more prostrate growth and are not likely 

 to be eaten so closely to the ground. 



