3l6 THE BOOK OF ALFALFA 



alfalfa; manure is spread on weak spots; we sow 20 

 pounds of seed broadcast, about May ist, and harrow 

 once to cover. Some cut it the first year ; some years the 

 crop is not worth touching for either hay or seed; there 

 is no trouble here from wmterkilling. We never irrigate. 

 The first cutting yields about three tons, the second, about 

 two and one-half tons, the third, about two tons, and the 

 fourth, one ton. For hay, cutting should begin when in 

 full bloom; we never cut for seed, but the first crop is 

 best. The season must govern the time for curing, 

 whether two days or 10; it will heat and mold if not dry 

 before stacking; no choice in size of stacks. On land 

 worth $40 per acre, it costs about $1.50 per ton to grow 

 and put alfalfa in the stack; baling costs $1.50 to $2 per 

 ton, the bales weighing 150 pounds. Alfalfa hay sold for 

 $12 per ton in 1890, and is now selling for $2.50; seed 

 sells for 10 to 12 cents per pound. For cattle, alfalfa 

 hay leads all others; for work animals, it is a little 

 *'washy," but we use nothing else; for pasturing hogs, 

 one acre of alfalfa is worth two of clover, and it is found 

 satisfactory for horses and sheep; alfalfa will pasture 

 more cattle than clover, but is more productive of bloat, 

 especially on windy days. The best remedy for bloat 

 is to get the foreparts of the animal on high ground 

 and splash cold water on its back; when all else fails, 

 apply the knife to the left side. We prefer unirrigated 

 hay, which seems firmer and less "washy." Alfalfa 

 reaches its best yields about the third year, and will last 

 20 years y it is not difficult to kill ; it is similar to Red 

 clover for turning under for green manure. All cattle 

 here are fed on alfalfa hay alone. I have fed cattle in 



