Alfalfa in Kansas. 



405 



It can easily be seen that the lower the per cent of water the higher 

 the per cent of all the other constituents. The same fact can be brought 

 out more forcibly by calculating the pounds of constituents in a ton, 

 under the above moisture percentages. The less water in the alfalfa the 

 more pounds of other constituents. 



TABLE No. 34. Pounds of constituents in a ton of alfalfa, with different moisture content. 



THE PERCENTAGE OF FEEDING CONSTITUENTS OF ALFALFA AS INFLUENCED 

 BY STAGE OF MATURITY. 



The percentage of the different constituents of alfalfa will also depend 

 on the stage of maturity at which it is cut. In an experiment at the 

 Experiment Station, alfalfa was cut in the bud stage, in one-tenth bloom, 

 in full bloom, and at the time of seed formation. Samples of the green 

 material were taken, and these were dried without any loss of leaves; 

 therefore the percentage composition represents that of the entire plant. 

 The results are all calculated to a uniform moisture basis of 10 per cent, 

 and are strictly comparable. 



TABLE No. 35. Feeding constituents of alfalfa cut at different stages of maturity. 



The figures show that the percentages of crude fiber and nitrogen- 

 free extract increase as the plant matures. Ether extract does not 

 seem to show any uniform change. Other things being equal, the alfalfa 

 cut early will contain more of the most valuable feeding constituent 

 protein than the alfalfa which is cut late. Whether or not it is best tc 

 cut alfalfa at one-tenth bloom, or earlier, is another question, and is not 

 discussed here. These figures simply show that the alfalfa cut in the 

 earlier stages is more valuable as a feed rich in protein than alfalfa cut 

 in later stages. This fact is emphasized if we calculate the pounds of 

 constituents there would be in a ton of alfalfa cut at different stages of 



maturity. 



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