PRACTICAL EXPERIENCES 237 



found, by careful tests, that alfalfa is 45 per cent better 

 than clover and 65 per cent better than timothy for feed- 

 ing farm animals. In my opinion, there is no other hay 

 that will equal properly cured alfalfa. That grown with- 

 out irrigation is much better, as it contains less sap and is 

 not so stalky. The threshed hay is splendid feed for 

 milch cows, and is sold here for the same price brought 

 by the hay cut earlier. Last season I pastured 65 head 

 of hogs on 10 acres of alfalfa, and they did well. In my 

 experience, it is far better than clover, from the fact that 

 it cannot be dislodged, the roots penetrating to a depth of 

 10 to 20 feet. The pasturage is profitable and satisfac- 

 tory for sheep and horses, and 45 per cent better for 

 cattle than clover. They will bloat sometimes, but if 

 properly handled there is little danger. The best pre- 

 ventive is to not allow the cattle to become too hungry. 

 We get, on an average, three cuttings a year, averaging i 

 to i^ tons per acre each, and have pasture for five or 

 six months. For hay, we mow when in full bloom, rake 

 as soon as possible, and let stand in windrows until the 

 stems are about half dry; then put in the cock for two 

 days, and stack in large ricks of about 80 to 100 tons 

 each. If put up damp or green, it will mold. The seed 

 is harvested, usually, from the second crop, when the 

 pods turn black and can be shelled out by rubbing in the 

 hand. It is cut, raked in windrows, and allowed to stand 

 until thoroughly dry. I used, this season, a J. I. Case 

 separator, and threshed and cleaned 6000 pounds of seed 

 in three days. An ordinary yield is 100 pounds to the 

 acre, and the cost of cutting and threshing is 3 cents a 

 pound. The total cost of the hay in the stack is about 



