313 MANUAL OF CATILE-FEEDOTG. 



whieli, however, is generally cultivated only for pasturage 

 in conjunction with other clovers and grasses. 



The Mediek {Medieago liipuUm), frequently but incor- 

 rectly called yellow clover, musfc also be considered an ex- 

 cellent fodder, so far as mechanical state and chemical 

 composition go, while the incarnate clover {Tnfoliuni in- 

 cariiatuin) easily becomes woody, and has less nutritive 

 value. 



Another forage plant which is stated by some authors 

 to have been lately brought before the public in Germany 

 under various high-sounding names, is the sweet clover 

 {Melilotus alha\ also called " Bokhara clover" and " Stone 

 clover." It does not appear, however, to be of any great 

 importance, except possibly in dry, stony soils. It appears 

 imposing on account of its height, but the proportion of 

 leaves to stem is small, and the coarse stems rapidly be- 

 come very woody, necessitating an early harvest. 



The ethereal oil (cumarin) peculiar to the plant, too, 

 though agreeable to cattle in very small quantities, renders 

 the fodder unpalatable, if present in more than a trace. 

 On this aceoimt, sweet clover should never be fed ex- 

 clusively. When it forms a third, or perhaps, in ^ ase of 

 sheep, a half of the whole ration of coarse fodder, tlie ani- 

 mals eat it freely, and it may be reckoned a fair fodder for 

 sheep, horses, and oxen. It would probably not bo suit- 

 able for milk cows, as the cumarin would be likely to im- 

 part a flavor to the milk. 



Many authorities place a hii>h value on the kidney-vetch 

 {AnthjlUs mdnerarla\ especially for light, sandy soils, where 

 clover does not floimsh. It is somewhat poorer in protein 

 than the foregoing plants, but also contains less crude fibre, 

 and is not inclined to become Avoody so ra])idly. 



Among its advantages are reckoned the facts tluit it b 



