SIXTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VIII. 797 



was 10.88 pounds, while upon Kafir corn meal alone the gain was 7:48 

 pounds per bushel. It is shown that the hay gave better results when 

 cut early and that the chief nutriment was in the leaves, which should be 

 carefuly saved during the process of harvesting. An earlier experiment 

 at the same station was tried to determine the value of alfalfa pasture 

 foi: hogs. The hogs were allowed to run upon the alfalfa during the 

 summer and were fed a light ration of grain. After deducting the 

 probable gain for the corn it was found that during the summer each 

 acre of alfalfa pasture produced 776 pounds of pork. 



Steers In Utah. — At the Utah experiment station steers made a most 

 rapid gain when fed upon early-cut alfalfa either with or without an 

 accompanying ration of grain. By early-cut hay was meant hay cut just 

 before bloom. The gain upon this early cut alfalfa hay was one third 

 more than upon hay cut when in full bloom or later. It was also found 

 that more hay was produced from the early cuttings and that the third 

 crop gave more rapid gains than either the first or second, which latter are 

 nearly equal in this respect. 



ALFALFA FOR HORSES. 



There is no doubt that alfalfa is an excellent forage plant for horses, 

 both as pasture and as hay. Horses do well upon alfalfa pasture, but 

 care must be exercised that they do not injure the stand of alfalfa by 

 trampling or too close grazing. In the alfalfa regions of the West 

 work horses upon the farm may bo fed the year round upon no other 

 ration than alfalfa. It is, however, generally conceded that horses, 

 while heavily worked, should receive at least a small grain ration in 

 order to produce the maximum effect. This is especially true of livery 

 horses and those which are worked upon t>he roa(^. On the other hand 

 there is a prejudice against alfalfa as feed for horses which is largely 

 due to unfamiliarity with this kind of hay. Horses as well as 

 other ainamls may not take alfalfa hay readily until they have acquired 

 a taste for it. It has also been found that injurious effects may follow 

 a sudden change to alfalfa hay from some other kind of feed. This 

 seems to be due to the large proportion of protein which may over- 

 stimulate the animal. There are also certain other reasons why alfalfa 

 is objected to by horse men. The manure is softer and more liquid 

 than from animals fed upon timothy hay and it is more diffi- 

 cult to keep the animals and the stables clean. It is a fact, however, 

 that the use of alfalfa hay for horses is rapidly increasing. 



ENEMIES OF ALFALFA. 



One of the most important factors in hindering the development of 

 alfalfa on soil suited to its growth is the presence of weeds. Alfalfa is 

 quite tender when it first comes up and the young plants are easily 



