588 IOWA DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE 



acres of it growing in the state. Successful yields have been secured in 

 every county, and it is only a matter of time before this valuable hay 

 crop will be found growing on every farm. 



It may be planted either in the spring or fall. Those growing it in 

 the western part report very favorable stands from the spring sowing, 

 while in the central and eastern sections the summer sowings have 

 been more successful. Alfalfa is a plant which will not stand excessive 

 moisture, and should always be grown on well drained land. It cannot 

 compete with acid soils, and before locating the field the soil should be 

 tested for acidity. If acid is found it can be remedied by the addition of 

 ground limestone. This is an inexpensive process and should not be 

 overlooked. Because of the small seeds the seed bed must be prepared 

 in a careful manner. If the planting is done either in the spring or 

 summer one should always be careful to disc and drag the ground thor- 

 oughly. If the summer seeding is done the land may be used for a small 

 grain crop. Just as soon as the grain ripens it should be removed and the 

 land covered with a good coating of barnyard manure. It should then 

 be plowed, disced four times and dragged well to firm the seed bed. 

 If the seeds have not been inoculated with nitrogen by the use of some 

 of the commercial preparations, soil from an alfalfa field or sweet clover 

 field should be spread on the ground. This should be immediately disced 

 in and dragged. The alfalfa seed should then be drilled at the rate of 

 sixteen to twenty pounds per acre. 



In purchasing alfalfa seed care should be taken in getting it from 

 localities north of yours. Seed produced on irrigated land will not do 

 so well as that produced on dry land. The American variety will prove 

 more successful and make a better class of hay than the others. There 

 has been considerable discussion in regard to the making of alfalfa 

 hay. As a general rule about the same care is required as in making 

 clover hay. The curing process is a trifle more difficult due to the 

 larger yield and the succulence of the stems. 



THE VAiUE OF SILAGE. 



It is a general belief that the only way to make money is to get 

 high prices for our products and have plenty of these products to sell. 

 Since prices are not always high and the farmer does not always have 

 a large supply there must be some other factor entering into the profit 

 side of farming. 



This other factor is cheap production. It is reasonable to state that 

 the dairyman receiving only a fair price for his product should be able 

 to have an income sufficient to pay him wages, besides a fair net profit. 

 With the present price of butter, the well managed dairy farm should in- 

 deed be a source of wealth. 



We find by analysis that 40 per cent of the feeding value of the corn 

 plant is in the stalk and leaf. If only the ears are removed we are 



