Alfalfa 'in Kansas. 137 



Butler county: "I put a large bit in the mouth and run the animal 

 about. As a last resort I would stick with a knife in the paunch." 



Ellis county: "If bad case, tap them. If not, tie a stick crossways in 

 the mouth." 



Marshall county: "A thick, round stick held securely in the mouth, 

 and tapping in desperate cases. Either is effective if in time." 



Morton county: "Tie a stick in the mouth and keep the animal moving. 

 If very bad, puncture and use tube." 



Comanche county: "Stick with pocket knife four inches in front of 

 the hip bone, two inches deep." 



Wabaunsee county: "If a steer or cow be bloated so bad that it would 

 die if left alone, it can be saved usually by stabbing on the upper left 

 side of the paunch to allow the gas to escape." 



Kingman county : "Don't let them have water. Get them in out of the 

 wind. Watch them. If one drops be quick to use the trocar." 



(See pages 419 to 423.) 



ALFALFA SOILAGE. 



Less than half of the growers reporting have had experience with 

 alfalfa as a soiling crop (cutting and feeding "green," without curing). 

 The results reported indicate that under certain circumstances, and 

 where good judgment is used, the practice is fairly good. It is excellent 

 feed for hogs, particularly sows penned up at farrowing time. Dairy 

 cows respond to it with a generous flow of milk. It is also good for beef 

 cattle, horses, sheep and poultry. However, to all animals except hogs, 

 "green" alfalfa must be fed carefully and not too freely, as it may have 

 a laxative effect on the bowels of the animals, and too much might even 

 cause "bloat" in the case of cattle and sheep. Some declare that while 

 it may be fed fresh to hogs, it should be wilted for at least twelve hours 

 for horses or cattle. The method itself involves more labor and is prob- 

 ably more expensive than any other method of harvesting or disposing of 

 the crop, hence it is possible that economy may warrant its use only in 

 special cases where animals are confined or penned up and where pastur- 

 ing is not desirable. The effect of soiling on the alfalfa field is probably 

 not so hard as pasturing, although cutting before maturity is anything 

 but beneficial. The following replies express the growers' sentiments on 

 this subject: 



Woodson county: "Good if fed in a moderate way." 



Sherman county: "If fed carefully and not too freely it is safe and 

 good." 



Stafford county: "Good, but use judgment in feeding." 

 Ellis county: "Results good when used judiciously." 

 Hodgeman county: "All right; must use judgment." 

 Brown county: "To cut and wilt is a fairly safe way." 

 Cowley county: "All right for hogs. Let it cure for cattle." 



' Fdnney county: "Good results with horses. For cattle it should be 

 wilted." 



