96 HORTICULTURE BY IRRIGATION. 



frost lias " cured " tlie juices) and have not only experienced no trouble 

 from pasturing in this way, but claim that it is really the most economi- 

 cal and profitable way of using this cutting, and that it is greatly relished 

 by both horses and cattle. 



If it is desired to raise seed only, the original seeding should not be 

 so thick, and the ground should not be irrigated until after the cutting. 

 In any case the seed crop should be saved from the first cutting, and 

 allowed to fully mature before harvesting. Our climate is very favorable 

 for growing an excellent quality of alfalfa seed, and the crop is profitable. 

 The average yield of seed to the acre is from seven to ten bushels, under 

 good treatment. Do not use a horse rake when saving the seed, but 

 bunch with a hay fork. An active man should follow up the mower and 

 remove the cutting as it falls from the machine so that it will be out of 

 the way before another round is made. After the seed has been threshed 

 by a machine used for that purpose, it is better to run it through a fine 

 sieve, as by this means poor, and often harmful seeds, like the Dodder, 

 may be removed. 



FEEDING. 



The first and second cuttings are usually preferred for horses, and the 

 third for cows. This hay should always be kept dry for feeding, as' when 

 wet it becomes heavy and soggy, and hence unsafe as a food, either for 

 horses or cattle. 



For milch cows, probably no hay is equal to alfalfa, either for in- 

 creasing the flow and richness of the milk, or for producing butter of a 

 high quality, color and flavor. But to achieve this desirable result, the 

 hay must be sweet and well-cured. Horses, cattle, sheep, and in fact 

 nearly all domestic animals, will thrive and fatten easily on this hay. 

 For road horses, it is better to feed somewhat sparingly in connection 

 with more concentrated food. 



In this place we insert the report of Professor Blount, of the Colo- 

 rado Agricultural College, just at hand as this article was ready for the 

 press. 



" Alfalfa stands at the head of all clovers in nearly all respects. It 

 needs no comment. Its feeding value, and as a hay crop, is excelled by 

 no other plant. As hay, its value may be seen in the experiments made 

 last year. Four steers were fed one month on it, and one on red clover. 

 They consumed each from 133 to 221 pounds more clover hay per month 



