a 2 OS ee ll ¥  —— UC 
139 
Wolff gives the following as its composition: — 
Portion assimilated 
Organic . : Non-nitrogenous : Carbo- 
be Be Albumin Fibre enars ae pat Fat Albumin hydrates Fat 
Hay containing 86°/o of dry 
substance , a Vos 14.9 26.4 34.9 3.6 8.4 37.0 2.0 
Green fodder containing 19.5 °/o 
of dry substance. Whe 3.5 6.0 vy 0.8 2.2 7.9 0.5 
Ratio of nitrogenous to non-nitrogenous nutriment, for the hay = 1:5, for the green fodder 
ah 2. 
Because of the large proportion of water, cattle fed upon it are frequently troubled with diarrhoea. 
This can be avoided by giving dry fodder along with it. White clover, especially when cropped from 
land to which gypsum has heen applied has been said to favour splenic fever. The high proportion 
of water and albumin in the clover may have some connection with the disease, as experience has shown 
that splenic fever is more frequent when animals are highly fed. 
Harvesting, impurities and adulterations of the seed. White clover produces an abund- Seed harvest. 
ant crop of seed much easier to harvest than a seet-crop of red clover. The first 
crop is usually taken as the seed-crop. The field can be depastured till the end of 
May; then the plants are allowed to grow for seed; or a hay crop may be taken about 
the end of May, and the second cutting used as a seed-crop. If the field is not used in 
spring, the seed is mature in August, otherwise not until September. The seed is known 
to be ripe in the same way as red clover. Drying goes on best, if the plants are left in 
swathe; if necessary, the drying may be completed on the clover carrier. The threshing 
‘s not so difficult as it is for red clover, because the seeds (usually 4 in a pod) come out 
with great ease. 
Although the seed is small, the yield is very considerable in a good season. Schwerz obtained 350 Yield of seed. 
lbs. per acre, and Sprengel from 700 to 900 Ibs. Langethal estimates the yield at 500 Ibs.. Krafft at 
from 220 to 450 Ibs., and Werner at from 260 to 520 Ibs., per acre. 
When cattle are pastured on white clover, a considerable number of flower-heads are left and run 
to seed. It is often profitable to harvest these, using the clover-comb (see under red clover). 
The following impurities are common in white clover: — Plantain (Plantago 
lanceolata), field chamomile (Anthemis arvensis). sorrel (Rumex acetosella), etc. Of these 
Plantago is injurious if the white clover enters into a hay mixture, but in a pasture it 
does less damage. At times, dodder occurs as an impurity. 
Adulterations are rarely attempted. When old, the seeds become discoloured and red. Adulterations. 
To give these the bright yellow colour of fresh seed, they are often rubbed with flowers of 
sulphur. If the germinating power be tested, the buyer cannot be deceived. Some time 
ago, Hirschmann of Hamburg sent into the market stones coloured yellow to imitate 
the seed, for purposes of adulteration. 
Seed and amount to be sown. The average purity of commercial seed is 95 °/o, and the 
germination 74°/o. In this estimate, one third of the hard seeds is reckoned to be capable 
of germination. Good commercial seed should have 96°/o purity, and at least 75 °/o ger- 
mination = 72% of pure and germinating seed. Care should be taken that no dodder 
is present. One Ib. of pure seed contains on an average 740,000 grains. ‘The average 
weight per bushel is 63 Ibs. Seed of good quality should have a bright sulphur yellow 
colour; if old, it will be red and the germination low. 
Impurities. 
Seed quality. 
