208 Feeds and Feeding. 



than six feet. A gravelly or sandy subsoil affords the most favor- 

 able conditions for downward root growth, though they are not 

 absolutely essential. Although under favorable circumstances a 

 fair crop of hay may be secured the first season, alfalfa requires 

 two or three years to become well established. 



Headden reports from actual count on small areas that the num- 

 ber of alfalfa plants per acre varied from 70,000 on a field in 

 poor condition to 653,000 on one seeded six months before, and 

 526,000 on a field ten years established, the latter yielding four 

 tons of hay per acre. 



307. Alfalfa for pasture. This plant is extensively used for 

 pasture in the West, especially in the Salt Eiver Valley, Arizona, 

 where large numbers of cattle and swine are successfully grazed 

 upon it. The hoofs of farm animals work injury to the crowns of 

 the plant, and this shortens the life of the alfalfa field given over 

 to pasturage. Sheep crop the tender sprouts too closely. Where 

 possible it is better to use the mower and carry the forage to the 

 animals. With cattle and sheep feeding on green alfalfa, there 

 is always danger from bloat, against which precautions must be 

 taken. (291) 



At the Kansas Agricultural College, l Shelton, pasturing pigs 

 on half an acre of alfalfa during the summer, fed 1,760 pounds of 

 corn additional, and secured a gain of 717 pounds. Allowing 329 

 pounds as the probable product from the corn, there remains to 

 the credit of the half acre of alfalfa 388 pounds of gain. (875) 



308. Alfalfa hay. In making hay from this plant the greatest 

 care should be exercised in saving the leaves and finer parts, so 

 easily wasted. The green plants cut with the mower should be 

 gathered when partly dry with the hay rake into windrows suf- 

 ficiently loose to dry still more, but compact enough to hold the 

 leaves and finer parts. Hay making from alfalfa cannot be taught 

 by books, but the figures presented by the Colorado Station show- 

 ing the possible losses in hay making should incite the farmer and 

 stockman to a careful study of the principles underlying success- 

 ful practice in handling the crop. There is no more palatable 

 roughage for farm animals than good alfalfa hay. This hay is best 



iRep. Prof, of Agr., 1884. 



