GREEN FORAGE AND HAY CROPS 121 
Sweet clover (Trifolium melilotus, Fig. 19) is grown as a 
forage crop to a limited extent in some of the central and southern 
States. It will grow on soils that are too poor in humus for the 
successful production of either alfalfa or red clover. Sweet clover 
may be used as hay, silage, soiling crop, or as a pasture for all 
classes of farm animals. It must be cut before blooming, since 
the plant rapidly becomes coarse and unpalatable to stock after 
this stage. Owing to the presence of a bitter principle (cumarin) 
in sweet clover, animals at first refuse to eat it, but appear to relish 
the plant when once accustomed to it, whether in dry or succulent 
form. Sweet clover stands next to cowpea hay and alfalfa in its con- 
tent of crude and digestible protein, but is also somewhat higher in 
fiber than other legumes. 
Average Composition of Leguminous Hays, in Per Cent 
Digestible 
Protein Fat Fiber Ash Carbo- | Nutri- 
Protein | hydrates} tive 
and fat ratio 
Sweet clover hay | 13.3 2.1 26.9 7.5 9.9 40.8 | 1:41 
Alfalfais <iccicace 14.3 2.2 25.0 7.4 11.0 42.3 1:3.8 
Red clover...... 12.3 3.3 24.8 6.2 - 6.8 39.6 1:5.8 
Cowpea........ 16.6 2.2 20.1 7.5 | 10.8 41.1 | 1:3.8 
Canada field peas (Canadian peas, Pisum sativum, var. arvense) 
are grown extensively in the States along the northern border of 
our country that are favored with fairly cool summer temperatures 
and a moderate amount of precipitation. Although its culture in 
this country is extending, we are still far behind Canada in taking 
advantage of the possibilities of this crop. Field peas are grown 
for seed or for forage as a soiling crop, for pasture, or cured as 
dry forage. The seed makes a valuable rich grain feed for horses, 
cattle, and sheep, and is generally fed mixed with oats, wheat 
bran, etc. 
Peas are frequently grown in conjunction with oats as a soiling 
crop for milch cows, or for pasturage for sheep and swine, for both 
of which purposes it is of superior value. Large areas of peas 
sown alone early in the spring at the rate of two bushels per acre, 
with a small amount of wheat or oats, are grown in the northern 
mountainous States for sheep and lamb feeding. These are turned 
on to the land when the peas are ripe, and harvest both grain and 
2 Farmers’ Bulletin 485; Michigan Circular 23. 
