Soiling Crops. 161 



weight, than forage from the older plants, and if the 

 swine are provided with this food in its most nutri- 

 tious condition, their growth will be most rapid. 

 They need to be provided with an abundance of 

 fresh or running water in their pastures. This for- 

 age plant responds quickly to manuring; no other 

 fodder plant responds more promptly to extensive 

 cultivation. Yet it is not advisable to apply stable 

 manure when preparing the ground. Such manure 

 is always full of weed and grass seeds that have not 

 been digested, and which are really in better condi- 

 tion to grow than seed scattered naturally in the 

 field." 



ALFALFA FORAGE FOR MILCH Cows. 

 New York Experimental Station, isth Annual Report. 



" The importance of feeding leguminous crops has 

 led to many inquiries concerning the value of alfalfa 

 as forage for milch cows, for the alfalfa is much 

 liked by the cattle and other animals and contains 

 an usually large proportion of nitrogenous constit- 

 uents. The rapid growth of the plant, which can 

 be cut three times during the season, and often four 

 times, makes it especially worthy of consideration 

 where soiling methods are practised. 



" A few of our farmers have grown good crops of 

 alfalfa successfully for several years, but it does not 

 seem suited to some sections of the State. Alfalfa 

 has grown well on the station farm, although the 

 soil is a rather heavy clay. A field of alfalfa of 2. 28 



