SOME GENERAL PRINCIPLES 3I 



practised rather than avoided. These two varieties 

 being essentially biennial in their habit of growth 

 will not usually survive the second winter, even 

 though not grazed, hence not to graze them would 

 result in a loss of the pasture. 



With nearly all kinds of clover there is some dan- 

 ger from bloat in grazing them with cattle or sheep 

 while yet quite succulent, and the danger is inten- 

 sified when the animals are turned in to graze with 

 empty stomachs or when the clover is wet with dew 

 or rain. When such bloating occurs, for the method 

 of procedure see page 95. The danger that bloat 

 will be produced is lessened in proportion as other 

 grasses abound in the pastures. 



Harvesting. — All the varieties of clover, except 

 alfalfa, are best cut for hay when in full bloom. 

 Here and there a head may have turned brown. If 

 cut earlier, the crop is difficult to cure, nor will it 

 contain a maximum of nutriment. If cut later it 

 loses much in palatability. Alfalfa should be cut 

 a little earlier, or just when it is nicely coming into 

 bloom, as if cut later the shedding of the leaves in 

 the curing is likely to be large. 



All clovers are much injured by exposure to rain 

 or dew. They will also lose much if cured in the 

 swath, without being frequently stirred with the 

 tedder; that is, it will take serious injury if cured 

 in the swath as it fell from the mower. If cured 

 thus, it will lose in aroma and palatability, through 

 the breaking of leaves and, consequently, in feeding 

 value. To avoid these losses, clover is more fre- 

 quently cured in the cock. When cured thus, it pre- 



