1570 



The Cornell Reading-Courses 



almost 500,000 acres in Colorado, and more than 250,000 acres in 

 Kansas and California. The Thirteenth Census, however, shows 35,343 

 acres in New York in 1909, a sixfold increase in ten years. 



Doubtless the reason for the slow development of alfalfa-growing in 

 New York and other Eastern States is lack of sufficient lime and of the 

 bacteria necessary for cultivation of the crop in practically all soils except 

 those of certain restricted areas. This deficiency was not known until 

 a few years ago ; but with our present knowledge of the subject and means 

 for overcoming such difficulties, there is no reason why alfalfa culture 

 should not have a rapid development in the Eastern States. 



value of the crop 



According to the Thirteenth Census, New York State produced in 

 1909 the following yields of hay and nutrients per acre: 



Average yields are always low, as large areas of poor land are included. 

 According to Bulletin 221 of the Cornell University Agricultural Experi- 

 ment Station, successful alfalfa growers in this State report yields varying 

 from 3 to 7 tons per acre, the average being 4 tons. This can be expected 

 from any good alfalfa field. 



The food value of alfalfa is very high since it is rich in protein, being 

 our cheapest source of that material. Valuing the various digestible 

 nutrients in alfalfa and other standard hays, the comparative value per 

 ton is reported to be about as follows, in Farmers' Bulletin 339, United 

 States Department of Agriculture: 



Feed 



Fresh alfalfa. 

 Fresh clover. 

 Alfalfa hay . . 

 Clover hay . . 

 Timothy hay 

 Cowpea hay . 



Value per ton 



$7 .00 

 5 96 



20. 16 



14. 12 



9.80 



19.76 



