116 



DESCRIPTION OF FEEDING STUFFS 



ratio of about 1 : 3.6, it is too high in protein for the best results 

 when fed alone, even with the animals mentioned, and may, there- 

 fore, be supplemented to advantage with Indian corn or other 

 starchy feeds. In the corn belt and eastern States the common 

 farm-grown feeds are starchy and low in protein, like corn fodder, 

 mixed or timothy hay, cereals and roots, and alfalfa is, therefore, 

 of special value as a supplemental feed in this important agricultural 

 section of our country. It may be partly substituted for wheat 



FIG. 17. Curing and harvesting alfalfa. ("Productive Farming," Davis.) 



bran or similar feeds in rations for dairy cows, in the proportion of 

 about 1% pounds of alfalfa to 1 pound of bran, and the bill for 

 concentrates thus greatly re'duced. Choice grades of alfalfa will 

 nearly approximate wheat foran in feeding value, and can generally 

 be produced at a cost less than one-half the price that this concen- 

 trate commands (Fig. 17). 



Alfalfa furnishes an excellent pasture after the first year, under 

 certain restrictions, viz., that it is not eaten off too closely, espe- 

 cially in the fall, and that cattle and sheep are not put on the pasture 

 when hungry and while the dew is on ; otherwise they are likely to 



