Alfalfa in Kansas. 287 



water can be stored in the soil during the winter months to insure a 

 heavy first cutting of alfalfa, and a reasonable second cutting, even if 

 further irrigation is not practiced. The stored water in the soil releases 

 the plant food during the winter months, and with the approach of the 

 warm spring sunshine the alfalfa starts its growth early and matures 

 rapidly. In fact, winter irrigation has a tendency to prolong the growing 

 season of this legume. 



Abundant sunshine is essential in the production of first-quality 

 alfalfa. The irrigated sections of Kansas, with a self -controlled, reliable 

 water supply by means of pumping, offer favorable conditions for grow- 

 ing alfalfa of the highest quality, and when good soil, irrigation water 

 and common-sense farming are combined, alfalfa production in such 

 regions will be successful. 



READING REFERENCES. 



(1) Farmers' Bulletin No. 373. Irrigation of Alfalfa. U. S. Department 



of Agriculture. 



(2) Farmers' Bulletin No. 158. How to Build Small Irrigation Ditches. 



U. S. Department of Agriculture. 



(3) Farmers' Bulletin No. 263. Practical Information for Beginners in 



Irrigation. U. S. Department of Agriculture. 

 (See "Irrigation," in index.) 



Results of extensive experiments at the Iowa Experiment Station show 

 a marked superiority of the forage system of feeding over the dry lot for 

 young, rapidly growing pigs. The best dry-lot gain cost, with 50-cent 

 corn, $4.36 per cwt., as compared to $2.88 on alfalfa, $3.69 to $3.84 on 

 red clover, and $3.63 to $3.95 on rape. The gains were also less rapid in 

 a dry lot. All in all the forage system is clearly in the lead with growing 

 pigs. 



Alfalfa is a superior hog forage. In 1911 an acre of alfalfa pasture 

 carried 16.5 hogs for 180 days. These hogs had an average weight of 89 

 pounds and consumed a grain ration consisting of ear corn, plus 5 per 

 cent of meat meal. The daily allowance was 4.05 pounds of concentrates 

 per 100 pounds live weight. With corn at 50 cents a bushel and meat 

 meal at $2.50 per cwt., the gains cost $2.88 per cwt. Counting the pro- 

 duction cost of the crop at $10.75 an acre, the net profits, with hogs sell- 

 ing at $5 to $6, were $65.99 and $97.09. After paying all expenses of 

 the crop and the meat meal, the hogs returned for every bushel of corn 

 86.6 cents when selling at $5, and $1.04 at $6. 



This alfalfa was sown in the fall of 1910 and was pastured in 1911 

 from May 19 to November 15. The alfalfa growth was allowed to keep 

 well ahead of the hogs, so that extra cuttings could be made. Altogether 

 3838 pounds of alfalfa hay was cut from the acre, credit for which is 

 given at $14 a ton in the computations. Our experience has been that 

 alfalfa pasture will withstand grazing well if handled in this manner. 

 J. M. Evvard, in Breeder's Gazette. 



