USE OF ALFALFA HAY 



363 



followed, the land being left in alfalfa as long as it continues 

 to yield profitable crops. The best success can be obtained 

 from this system only when the supply of phosphorus and 

 potash is maintained by the addition of fertilizers. When 

 old alfalfa sod is broken, the land is planted to potatoes, corn, 

 or small grain for a few years, and then reseeded to alfalfa. 

 Larger profits would often be made if the sod were broken 

 at shorter intervals and a regular I'otation followed, as the 

 loss from diseases and insects would be reduced. 



In the cotton section, corn, cotton, and alfalfa can l)o 

 worked into a good rotation, particularly^ if some small grain 

 is grown. Alfalfa can be sown to best advantage in this 

 section on land from which a grain crop has been removed. 

 After two or three years, when it is desired to break up ihi) 

 stand of alfalfa, a crop of corn may be grown, followed by 

 a crop of cotton. Winter grain may then be sown among 

 the cotton stalks in the fall, and the alfalfa seeded the follow- 

 ing season after the grain is removed. 



477. Use of the Hay. By far the greater part of the 

 alfalfa crop is used for hay. This hay can be fed to all 

 kinds of stock, including even hogs and poultry. It is rich 

 in feeding value, 11 pounds of it containing as much protein 



Table X VII I. Composition of A Ifalfa 



All analyses.. . . 

 First cutting . . . 

 Second cutting. 

 Before bloom . . 



In bloom 



In seed 



Meal 



Leaves 



Stems 



DRY 



Digestible Nutrients in 

 pounds 



Crude 

 protein 



Pounds 



10.6 



9.3 



11.2 



15.4 



10.5 



8.5 



10.2 



15.8 



1.8 



Fat 



Pounds 



0.9 

 0.6 

 0.7 

 1.6 

 0.7 

 1.0 

 0.8 

 1.3 

 0.4 



GREEN 



