556 Report of the Department of Animal Husbandry of thb 



parison the average composition of the mature fresh corn fodder 

 fed during the last three seasons is also stated. 



Alfalfa Coi!'. 



Moisture, per cent 75 . 6 73 



Ash, per cent 2.1 1.2 



Crude protein, per cent 4.4 2.3 



Albuminoids, per cent 3.4 2 



Crude fibre, per cent €.5 5.3 



Nitrogen- free extract, per cent 10. 1 17.1 



Crude fats (ether extract), per cent 1.3 1.1 



Soil. 



Alfalfa grows well on varying kinds of soils, provided the 

 subsoil is open and porous. The most favorable soil is a rich, 

 somewhat sandy loam, warm and friable, with a deep and loose 

 or gravelly subsoil, well supplied with lime. A dense clay or 

 hardpan subsoil is most unfavorable. Although a rich soil is 

 of course the best and gives the largest crops alfalfa sometimes 

 does unexpectedly well on poor, gravelly land^ 



The plant consumes much water, but will not survive long 

 in a saturated or flooded soil, and much water in or on the 

 ground during winter is fatal. If water stands for any con- 

 siderable time within a few feet of the surface the crop will be 



injured. 



Food for the Plant. 



An abundance of lime in the soil is especially desirable, and 

 much iron is injurious. The plant is a heavy feeder and will 

 not be productive on soils deficient in plant food. It is a legu- 

 minous plant and can obtain nitrogen not available to many 

 plants, although it responds quickly to applications of nitrog- 

 enous manures. The extent of its power to obtain atmospheric 

 nitrogen is not certain, but it is important to utilize it so far 

 as possible and feed the crop mainly potash and phosphoric 



acid. 



Improvement of Soil. 



Although so rank a feeder and large producer alfalfa is less 

 exhaustive to the soil than many plants of lighter producing 

 power. Where the crop is fed on the farm, as it should be, and 



