274 THE BOOK OF ALFALFA* 



$5 per bushel, and for the next five years will probably 

 not go lower than $3. One crop of seed and two of hay 

 are the average on low land, and one crop less of hay 

 on high land. The threshed hay is nearly as good for 

 feed as the unthreshed. There is no waste in feeding this 

 hay, and horses are especially fond of the coarse stems. 

 It stands our winters remarkably well, so far, coming 

 through in excellent condition. There is no stock but eats 

 alfalfa hay as well or better than clover or timothy. 

 Young colts and calves will winter in fine condition on 

 this hay, with little or no grain. If the last cutting is 

 allowed to stand, with a growth from six to eight inches, 

 horses and cattle will graze on it through the winter, the 

 same as on Red clover, doing equally as well. Now, as 

 to the other side. Will this clover grow in all latitudes 

 and longitudes as well as Red clover? We think it 

 doubtful. It requires a dry, porous soil, in which there 

 is no hardpan nor too much clay, and it does not like too 

 much water. It does well where the soil is somewhat 

 sandy, its roots penetrating to a depth of from 15 to 25 

 feet, thus drawing its nutrition from various strata of 

 soil. What else against it ? If cattle are turned on after 

 a rain, when it is wet, or dew is on, they often bloat and 

 die; but if turned on in the spring, and kept on continu- 

 ously, have little danger of gorging themselves or bloat- 

 ing. No other stock is adversely affected by it. This is 

 all that can be honestly said against alfalfa, and this is 

 obviated by a little care by the farmer, while the many 

 good things said about it must certainly recommend it to 

 the intelligent husbandman. Thus we can enumerate: 

 First, its certainty as a crop ; second, its enormous yield ; 



