ALFALFA 345 



Eventually it invades many fields, and when this is the case 

 the mixture makes fine pasturage. 



Few data are available as to the carrying capacity of 

 alfalfa pastures. In good alfalfa sections, a field will sup- 

 port an average of ten hogs to the acre throughout the 

 grazing season. Fields should never be closely pastured 

 to the end of the season, but the animals should be removed 

 in time to allow a growth of 6 inches or more before the 

 beginning of winter. 



409. Use as a soiling crop. Alfalfa is an excellent 

 soiling crop, especially for dairy cows. Only one precau- 

 tion needs to be taken ; namely, not to cut the same field 

 more often than it would be cut for hay, as otherwise the 

 plants are greatly weakened and often succumb. Such 

 an injurious result is not uncommonly seen in alfalfa near 

 dairy barns, which, on account of its convenience, has 

 been cut too frequently. No cases are on record of cut 

 alfalfa ever having caused bloating. 



410. Alfalfa silage. Alfalfa alone has not given 

 very satisfactory results as silage in the few tests re- 

 ported. This method of preservation is rarely necessary 

 in the West, where most of the alfalfa is grown. In the 

 East, however, ensiling the crop would be a means of 

 saving it during weather unfavorable for hay curing. 

 One difficulty encountered in making good silage from 

 alfalfa is to secure sufficiently dense packing to prevent 

 spoiling. Chopping the alfalfa reduces the loss from 

 this cause. Much additional investigation regarding 

 the preservation of alfalfa as silage is needed. 



At the Utah Experiment Station there was placed in 

 one silo 14,165 pounds red clover, 4020 pounds sweet 

 clover, 8620 pounds alfalfa and 3720 pounds Hungarian 

 millet, a total of 30,525 pounds. The total silage taken 



