MODERN SHEEP: BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 305 



has said, with a good deal of truth, that alfalfa is a gold mine 

 to sheep feeders. Another party has said that it must be regarded 

 as the king of forage crops, red clover not excepted. Alfalfa is 

 very rich in protein. It is a plant which is somewhat fastidious 

 as to where it grows, but nevertheless it grows more or less freely 

 in most of our states. Alfalfa is not an ideal crop for pasturing, 

 but notwithstanding this there are few sheep feeders who have 

 tried this plant for hay but what swear by it. Alfalfa delights in 

 lime, therefore lands deficient in this agent should not be chosen 

 for alfalfa fields. Alfalfa is a very deep feeding plant. It is a 

 very heavy yielder, giving three cuttings a year, and in some states 

 even more. In some sections from four to six tons of hay per acre 

 may be cut annually. To grow alfalfa successfully the ground 

 must be put in good condition by a thorough harrowing after 

 plowing. It seems as if alfalfa is finding favor, not only all over 

 this country, but in foreign countries as well. Sir Samuel M<*- 

 Caughey, the Australian sheep king, has 3,000 acres under culti- 

 vation and expects to double this in the very near future. For 

 short periods he stocks his paddocks at the rate of 100 sheep to 

 the acre and is quoted as saying that the carrying capacity of irri- 

 gated alfalfa is twenty sheep to the acre for six months of the 

 year. An Arizona sheepman leased twenty acres of alfalfa some 

 time ago and ran 900 sheep on it for thirty days, the sheep fat- 

 tening very rapidly. Alfalfa makes a very good ensilage. It is 

 best to cut it between early bloom and half bloom and not allow 

 it to develop into full bloom. Where alfalfa is pastured great 

 care must be observed that the sheep do not become bloated on 

 it, as is sometimes the case where it is pastured too young or 

 when heavily charged with moisture. Where sheep are attacked 

 with bloat heroic measures must be resorted to at once. The most 

 satisfactory remedy is tapping, which is done by making an in- 

 cision where the swelling is most prominent on the left side, thus 

 allowing the gas to escapee from the stomach. The best instrument 

 for this operation is the* trocar and canula. The trocar should be 

 inserted about half way between the point of the hip and the last 

 rib. If a trocar is not handy a knife will answer the purpose. 

 There is little danger in performing this operation provided the 

 instrument is not inserted in such a manner as to injure the kid- 

 neys. The shepherd should watch that flies do not bother the 

 wound. Turpentine is a good remedy. It should be given in half- 

 ounce doses. Hyposulphite of soda, dissolved in water and given 

 as a drench in quantities of two drachms, is another good rem- 

 edy. Common soda in one-half drachm doses is also valuable. In 

 giving these medicines they should be well diluted with water. 



