ALFALFA FOR SHEEP. 393 



Grazing Sheep on Alfalfa. In another place ref- 

 erence is made to this practice and it is told how 

 that alfalfa pastures destined to be fed off by sheep 

 should have grasses mixed through them, as a pre- 

 ventive of bloat. The secret of successful grazing 

 of sheep on alfalfa seems to lie in following of a few 

 well defined rules. ; 



First, the alfalfa ought to be fairly well grown. 

 It is much better if it is near the blooming stage 

 when they are turned into it. It is all wrong to 

 turn them in the field in early spring, letting them 

 gnaw off the buds from the crowns as they start to 

 grow. That is a practice bad for the alfalfa and not 

 very helpful to the sheep. 



Second, the sheep should be filled up full on green 

 feed before being turned in to the alfalfa. If in ad- 

 dition they are given some dry grain, provided they 

 are accustomed to this, all the better. They should 

 be turned in at about 10 or 11 o 'clock in the morn- 

 ing of a sunny day. 



Third, they should have salt before them at all 

 times. It is thought that it is better to mix with 

 this salt air-slaked lime, about two parts of lime to 

 one of salt. I have not tested this but it has the 

 weight of good authority. 



Finally, once introduced to alfalfa the sheep 

 should not again be taken off of it, neither by night 

 nor by day, nor in rain nor dew nor at any time till 

 they are taken off for good. And when they are 

 taken off and it is desired to introduce them again 



