152 



ELEMENTARY AGRICULTURE 



with grain in the spring. The field should be mellow 

 and fine as a seed bed, for alfalfa is not a strong 

 plant until it gets a good start. Weeds will injure 

 it, so it is well to sow seed that is free from weed 

 seeds. Alfalfa may be grown on the same field for 

 a longer time without change than most crops, but 

 it should be plowed in at intervals of from five to 

 seven years and some other crop sown. 



Good for Horses. There is no one thing so good 

 as alfalfa for the working horse. It builds up his 

 worn-out muscles and keeps him strong and healthy. 

 He needs much less grain when he can have alfalfa 

 hay. It ought to be free from dust, but it does not 



Courtesy of Santa Fe R. R. 



Fig. 83. A field of alfalfa — six crops to the season. 



gather dust so easily as .clover. It is not safe to 

 feed too much to horses. 



Alfalfa for Other Stock. Milch cows thrive on 

 alfalfa, and nothing better is grown for calves, 



