YIELDS AND COMPARISONS WITH OTHER CROPS 21 



hundred, thus saving many plowings and seedings. It 

 is also estimated that the stubble and root-growth of 

 alfalfa are worth at least four times as much for humus 

 as are those of clover, while the mechanical and other 

 beneficent effects of the long alfalfa roots far excel those 

 of clover. The alfalfa field is green for pasturage a 

 month earlier in the spring than clover and may be 

 mowed a month earlier. It starts a vigorous growth at 

 once after cutting, covering the ground with its luxu- 

 riant foliage before the second growth of clover has 

 made any substantial progress. 



The Wisconsin experiment station says that "one acre 

 of alfalfa yields as much protein as three acres of clover, 

 as much as nine acres of timothy and twelve times as 

 much as an acre of brome grass." 



COMPARISONS WITH SEVERAIi GRASSES 



Variety Grown 



June Clover 



Mammoth Clover 



Alslke Clover 



Alfalfa (first cutting) 26 



inches high, June 29th. 



Blue-Rrass 



Orchard grass 



Timothy 



Ked-top 



Meadow fescue 



Tall meadow oat grass... 



Italian rye grass 



Timothy, blue-grass and 



orchard grass mixed . 



Hay lbs. 



473 

 475 

 413 



816 

 575 

 478 

 560 

 470 

 375 

 600 



Yield per acre. 



2,365 

 2,375 

 2,065 



4,080 

 2,875 

 2,390 

 2,800 

 2,350 

 1,875 

 3,000 



•The alfalfa plat yielded a second cutting 26 inches high on August 2nd and a 

 third 24 inches high September 1st; there was also a six-nich after-growth esti- 

 mated at 180 pounds. Tlie total alfalfa yield was equivalent, "approximately to 

 6 1-2 tons of good dry forage." None of the other clovers or grasses gave more 

 than one cutting. 



tRobbed somewhat of both plant food and moisture by an adjacent row of 

 grown Cottonwood trees. 



