1968 



The Cornell Reading Courses 



deficiency was not known until a few years ago; but with the present 

 knowledge of the subject and of the means for overcoming such difficulties, 

 there is no reason why alfalfa culture should not have a rapid develop- 

 ment 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, for 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 }delds var\'ing 

 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 

 the 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. 



While alfalfa hay has almost the same analysis as bran, yet it is not so 

 digestible, for it is much coarser. With bran valued at $22.50 per ton, 

 alfalfa would be worth $16.50 per ton, according to feeding experiments 

 conducted at the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. 



