Clover is very rich in flesh-forming and heat-producing substances. There are several varieties of this plant, of which the Alsike Clover appears to be the most valuable, as it contains a high proportion of organic matter and gives the largest acreable produce. The nature of the soil influences, to a great extent, the composition of this plant: this no doubt accounts for the somewhat discrepant result of the analyses of it made by Way, Voelcker, and Anderson.
The composition of the Vetch, Sainfoin, and Lucerne, resembles very closely that of the Clover: indeed, it appears to me that all these leguminous plants are nearly equally valuable as green forage, but that the best adapted for hay is the Clover. In the following table the composition of these plants is shown:—
| ANALYSES OF CLOVER, BY DR. VOELCKER. | |||||
| I. Red Clover. | II. White Clover. | III. Yellow Clover. | IV. Alsike Clover. | V. Bokhara Clover. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | 80·64 | 83·65 | 77·57 | 76·67 | 81·30 |
| Soluble in Water— | |||||
| a. Organic substances | 6·35 | 4·98 | 8·26 | 4·91 | 6·80 |
| b. Inorganic substances | 1·55 | 1·13 | 1·40 | 1·33 | 1·54 |
| Insoluble in water— | |||||
| a. Impure vegetable fibre | 11·04 | 9·80 | 12·17 | 16·36 | 10·01 |
| b. Inorganic matters (ash) | 0·42 | 0·44 | 0·60 | 0·73 | 0·35 |
| 100·00 | 100·00 | 100·00 | 100·00 | 100·00 | |
| ANALYSES OF LUCERNE, SAINFOIN, AND VETCH. | |||||
| I. Lucerne. | II. Sainfoin. | III. Vetch. | |||
| Water | 73·41 | 77·32 | 82·16 | ||
| Soluble in Water | |||||
| a. Organic substances | 9·43 | 8·00 | 6·07 | ||
| b. Inorganic substances | 2·33 | 1·20 | 1·07 | ||
| Insoluble in water | |||||
| a. Impure vegetable fibre | 14·08 | 12·95 | 10·23 | ||
| b. Inorganic matters (ash) | 0·75 | 0·53 | 0·47 | ||
| 100·00 | 100·00 | 100·00 | |||
The artificial grasses are, on the whole, more nutritious than the natural grasses; but I should explain that the analyses of the natural grasses which I have quoted refer to those plants in what may be almost termed their wild state: under the influence of good cultivation—when irrigated or top-dressed with abundance of appropriate manure—their analyses would indicate a higher nutritive value. The grasses, and more especially the so-called artificial grasses, are more nutritious and digestible when young. In old clover the proportion of insoluble woody fibre is often so considerable as to greatly detract from the alimental value of the plant.
The Lentils, the Birdsfoot, the Trefoil, and the Melilot are leguminous plants which occasionally are found as constituents of forage crops. Lentils are extensively cultivated on the Continent, and are the only kind of these plants the chemistry of which has been at all studied. The straw contains 7 per cent. of flesh-formers.
The Yellow Lupine is cultivated rather extensively in Germany, France, and Belgium, partly for feeding purposes, partly to furnish a green manure. Its seeds constitute a nutritious article of food for man, and its stems and leaves are given to cattle. An attempt was made a few years ago to introduce its cultivation, as a field crop, into England, and very satisfactory results attended the first trials made with it. Mr. Kimber, who has cultivated this crop, states that it is likely to prove valuable on light sandy soils, where the ordinary green fodder crops are not easily cultivated. The produce per acre obtained in Mr. Kimber's trial was about nineteen tons. Cattle and sheep relish the Yellow Lupine, but according to Mr. Kimber, pigs reject it. Professor Voelcker examined this plant, and found that it resembled in composition the ordinary artificial grasses, except in one respect, namely, a remarkable deficiency in sugar. Altogether, it is not so rich in nutriment as any of the commonly cultivated leguminous plants; but as it can be cultivated on a very poor soil, and gives a good return, it is probable that the Yellow Lupine will yet become a common crop in Britain. The following table exhibits the results of Dr. Voelcker's analysis.
| COMPOSITION OF YELLOW LUPINES (CUT DOWN IN A GREEN STATE). | ||
| In natural state. | Dried at 212°F. | |
|---|---|---|
| Water | 89·20 | |
| Oil | ·37 | 3·42 |
| * Soluble albuminous compounds | 1·37 | 12·68 |
| Soluble mineral (saline) substances | ·61 | 5·64 |
| † Insoluble albuminous compounds | 1·01 | 9·35 |
| Sugar, gum, bitter extractive matter, and digestible fibre | 3·96 | 36·68 |
| Indigestible woody fibre (cellulose) | 3·29 | 30·48 |
| Insoluble mineral matters | ·19 | 1·75 |
| ——— | ——— | |
| 100·00 | 100·00 | |
| * Containing nitrogen | ·22 | 2·03 |
| † Containing nitrogen | ·16 | 1·48 |
Rib grass plantain (Plantago lanceolata) is one of those plants, the value of which for forage purposes is questionable. Many persons believe it to be a useful food. Its composition, which looks favorable, is as follows:—