CHAPTER 16 



The Clovers 



Clovers are important on account of their high protein content and 

 nutritive ratio. They are especially valuable as forage for all classes of 

 livestock. Clovers enrich the soil in nitrogen and organic matter, and 

 improve its physical condition through the deep penetration of roots. For 

 years farmers have paid out large sums in the purchase of nitrogen for the 

 soil and protein for livestock. This can be largely avoided by growing an 

 abundance of leguminous crops on the farm. 



Characteristics of Clovers. — The true clovers are herbaceous leafy 

 plants having three palmately arranged leaves. The larger growing 

 species have deep roots on which occur nodules containing certain species 

 of bacteria. These bacteria enable the plants to secure nitrogen from the 

 air and use it in their development. For this reason legumes are richer in 

 protein than other classes of plants. Of the total nitrogen in the plants 

 about two-thirds are in the tops and one-third in the roots. 



Uses of Clovers. — As a rule from one-half to two-thirds of the roughage 

 in the ration for milk cows and young stock should consist of legumes, 

 among which the clovers as hay are most convenient to use and most 

 economical. The larger growing clovers are also quite extensively used for 

 soiling purposes, and in some cases have been used for ensilage. The 

 clovers are also among the most important crops for green manuring and 

 as cover crops. 



Inoculation. — Since all of the legumes contain bacteria in the nodules 

 on their roots, it is best to inoculate many of the legumes when grown for 

 the first time in any locality. In most of the clover region soils are already 

 inoculated for the clovers. If inoculation is advisable, it may be effected 

 either by soil transferred or by the use of artificial cultures. In this connec- 

 tion it should be borne in mind that as a rule each legume has a particular 

 species of bacteria. Three to four hundred pounds of soil transferred from 

 a well-established field of any species of clover to a new field will effect 

 satisfactory inoculation of the latter. The soil should be taken from the 

 zone of most abundant root activity, thoroughly distributed on the new 

 field and at once mixed with the soil by disking or harrowing. 



Artificial cultures have now been perfected and can be purchased at 

 reasonable prices from many manufacturing firms. The culture is generally 

 applied directly to the seed just before it is sown. 



Composition and Feeding Value. — The composition of several species 

 of clovers in the green state and in forms of preservation will be found in 

 Table VI in the Appendix. Clovers, whether used for ensilage, soiling, hay 



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