THE HAYS 



235 



curing. If the hay is cut too early it will not contain enough 

 nutrients, while if it is cut too late it will contain more crude 

 fiber and })e less digestible. Clover should be cut when 

 approximately one-third of the heads have turned brown. 

 If the hay is leached by rain a large part of the more digestible 

 portions are washed out. If it is put up too green, it will 

 brown, mold, or fire ; while if it is put up too dry, the leaves, 



Fig. 51. — Production of clover in the United States. One dot repre.sent.s 

 10,000 tons. (Hitchcock, A Text-Book of Grasses.) 



which contain most of the nutriment, will be shattered off 

 and lost. 



'For Growing Stock. — Due to its high content of crude 

 protein and mineral matter, clover hay is one of the best 

 roughages for growing stock. 



For calves and growing cattle, clover hay is second only 

 to alfalfa as a roughage. 0^ving to its bulkiness, concen- 

 trates should be fed along with it for quick growth, but for 

 wintering stock cattle Uttle or no other feed is necessary. 



