PRACTICAL EXPERIENCES 253 



it will have more or less sunflowers, which are a protec- 

 tion while the plant is getting a start. It seldom winter- 

 kills. We irrigate by flooding the ground twice each sea- 

 son from a stream. After the first year, three cuttings are 

 had; 2^ tons per acre the first; i]^ to 2 the second; and 

 one ton per acre the third. Cut for hay as soon as well 

 blossomed. It grows too rank here for seed. Hay should 

 cure in from one to two days, and, if properly cured, 

 stack as other hay. Alfalfa costs, in stack, $3 per ton. 

 The size of bales is immaterial, except in fitting cars. 

 Prices for hay have ranged from $5 to $10 per ton; for 

 seed, from 7 to 15 cents per pound. It is the best hay in 

 use for farm animals. Horses will thrive on it without 

 grain, if properly handled. For swine pasture it is far 

 ahead of clover. It is satisfactory for sheep. In some 

 localities it will cause cattle to bloat ; as a preventive, feed 

 well with dry hay before turning them on the pasture. 

 Deep soil is the best for the long life of the plant. The 

 second year it is at its best, and, if properly handled, and 

 does not winterkill, will last for all time. It is much bet- 

 ter than Red clover for green manure. 



ILLINOIS 



Prof. C. G. Hopkins, Agronomist Illinois experiment 

 station. — Alfalfa is being introduced into Illinois to a 

 considerable extent. Very careful and somewhat exten- 

 sive investigations conducted by the experiment station, 

 beginning in 1901, have positively established the fact that 

 alfalfa can be grown in this state on several of our most 

 abundant types of soil. As a rule, it is markedly advan- 

 tageous to thoroughly inoculate the soil with alfalfa bac- 



