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FARMERS BULLETIN 820. 



with too much external moisture upon it. No instances of sponta- 

 neous combustion in sweet-clover hay have been noted, but this may 

 be due to the fact that comparatively little sweet-clover hay is stored 

 in barns. The same precautions, therefore, should be taken with 

 sweet-clover hay as with red clover or alfalfa. 



SWEET CLOVER AS A SILAGE CROP. 



In some sections of the country sweet clover is gaining in favor as 

 a silage crop, either alone or in mixtures with other plants. The 

 silage made from this plant will keep better than that made from 

 most legumes, as it does not become slimy, as is so often the case with 



FIG. 10. Filling the silo with sweet clover. 



red clover or alfalfa silage. It produces a palatable feed, which 

 should contain more protein than well-matured corn silage. 



When sweet clover makes sufficient growth after grain harvest, 

 or when seeded alone, it is not necessary to cut it for silage until 

 fall. At this time it may be run into the silo alone or in mixture 

 with corn. Excellent results have been obtained by placing alternate 

 loads of corn and sweet clover in the silo. (Fig. 10.) 



When the first crop the second season is not needed for pasturage, 

 ensiling may prove to be the most economical and profitable way of 

 handling it, as it is necessary to cut this crop for hay at a time of 

 the year when the weather conditions in humid regions are very 

 likely to be unfavorable for haymaking. The large percentage of 

 leaves which usually are lost from shattering when harvesting the 

 hay will be saved when the crop is run into the silo. 



