108 



Missouri Agricultural Report. 



acres in extent being common, while those of 200,000 acres are not 

 unknown. Alfalfa, which grows luxuriously over a large part of 

 the Argentine, is yearly becoming more and more the cattle raisers' 

 mainstay. Approximately 9,000,000 acres are devoted to this crop 

 and this seemingly large area by no means represents the extent 

 of its probable use, as its growth is rapidly increasing. Alfalfa is 

 pastured with cattle, sheep, horses and hogs. As a rule only the 

 surplus is cut and stacked for hay. If the entire crop is left for 

 hay it can usually be cut five times and will yield five tons or more 

 for the season. Ranches well set in alfalfa and intelligently handled 

 will graze 4,000 cattle, 1,000 sheep and 100 horses the league of 

 6,672 acres. Alfalfa is by no means a new crop and notwithstand- 

 ing the rapid extension of its growth, its wealth producing possibili- 

 ties are not yet fully appreciated by our southern neighbors, else its 

 culture in Argentina would be universal. 



To emphasize the importance of this crop to the Argentine beef 

 producer, a single instance will suffice. A progressive English- 

 man assumed the management of an estancia of some 140,000 acres 

 in extent. That was thirteen years ago. At that time the pas- 

 tures were simply of the native grasses. As the estancia was 

 owned by a stock company it was divided and subdivided and parts 

 of it were sold until today but 55,000 acres remain. This is all well 

 set in as fine alfalfa as it has ever been my privilege to see. This 



Figure 4. — "Conquerors Crown" — An Argentine-bred bull which would look well in high-class 



company in any country. 



