AS A PASTURE PLANT. 347 



of cattle grazing on rich alfalfa pastures. There is 

 little bloat among these cattle, partly because of the 

 presence of annual grasses in the alfalfa and partly 

 because of the system of management. It is a cus- 

 tom with these ranchmen when bringing hungry cat- 

 tle to an alfalfa field to mow down a block of about 

 40 acres, turning the cattle in as soon as it has wilted 

 somewhat. When once the cattle are stuffed full of 

 the half -dry alfalfa hay they are permitted to begin 

 eating the green stuff, and will, it is said, eat al- 

 ternately of the green and the dry. Or sometimes 

 they are turned in a field that has been all mown 

 down and eat of the dry till the green comes up 

 through, when they eat of whichever they choose. 

 The losses of Henry Miller, who annually pastures 

 many thousands of cattle on alfalfa, are reported 

 to be less than 1% from all causes, bloat included. 



The danger of bloat increases according to region. 

 There are places where cattle bloat badly, other 

 places where there is little if any bloat from feeding 

 off green alfalfa. The reason for this is not under- 

 stood. It is certain that pastures containing a mix- 

 ture of alfalfa and grass are much less dangerous 

 than those composed of pure alfalfa. 



