250 FORAGE CROPS 
much injured by light rains and dews, owing to 
the smaller proportion of leaf. The stems are 
finer and are readily eaten and digested. The diffi- 
culty in making hay arises from the fact that 
it is ready for hay-making at a period when the 
season is still cool, and bright sunshiny days are 
less frequent. Stock is said sometimes to suffer 
from eating crimson clover hay from the forma- 
tion of hair-balls in the stomach, due to the 
hairs on the plant. 
Crimson clover as pasture 
Crimson clover is very highly regarded as a 
pasture plant, particularly for late fall and early 
spring. When seeding has been made in July, 
on lands not otherwise occupied, it makes rapid 
growth and serves as late fall pasture, not being 
injured by frost in the same degree that red 
clover is. Fall pasturing frequently benefits the 
plant, as a thick, heavy crop is not so liable to 
be carried safely through winter. It makes earlier 
pastures than any other clover. It is very useful 
for sheep or cattle. As a pasture clover, it is a 
very desirable plant in the rotation, inasmuch as 
it is adaptable, easily grown, matures quickly in 
a cool season and possesses the characteristics of 
other clovers in contributing directly to the in- 
erease of nitrogen in the soil. 
