86 SOILING CROPS AND THE SILO. 



tion and unstinted in quality, when the animals are 

 hungry. And the danger is further increased by 

 dampness caused by rain or dew. 



ALFALFA. 



Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), sometimes called 

 lucern, has a higher adaptation for soiling than any 

 other plant of the clover family. This arises, first, 

 from the rapid and prolonged character of its 

 growth ; second, from its long-lived character ; and, 

 third, from the excellent quality of the food which 

 it produces. Alfalfa is ready for being cut as green 

 food at least two weeks earlier than medium red 

 clover, and in some instances it will yield a cutting 

 every month thereafter during the season. There 

 are some favored sections in the United States in 

 which, by judicious managment, alfalfa may be cut 

 and fed as green food every month in the year. The 

 duration of alfalfa meadows will depend in a great 

 measure on the conditions of soil and subsoil, more 

 especially the latter, while it will sometimes fail 

 within a few years from the date of sowing ; in other 

 instances, it will continue to grow and thrive indefi- 

 nitely. Alfalfa meadows are now in existence which 

 have been mowed every year for more than forty 

 years. But of course the average duration does not 

 cover nearly so long a period. The excellent quality 

 of the food arises in part from its nitrogenous char- 

 acter and in part from its palatability. 



In view of the pre-eminent suitability of this 

 plant for soiling purposes, it seems strange that this 

 fact has not been more generally recognized by 



