No. 4.] ALFALFA FOR NEW ENGLAND. 153 



rich enough in food elements so that some extra labor can well 

 be used in harvesting it. 



But the man who does not understand alfalfa will suffer the 

 greatest loss, because he does not use the hay caps. The alfalfa 

 leaf is the richest part of the plant. Horses do not like leaves 

 so well, but cattle and chickens like them better. But the leaves 

 are very readily shattered off unless the hay is cured under the 

 hay caps. Some people make the mistake of having caps that 

 are too small. The caps should be at least 50 by 50 inches. 

 The corners may be fastened with weights or wire pins. 

 Weights are made by filling small plant pots with cement into 

 which has been placed a wire loop or hook. Wire pins are most 

 pleasing to some. The pins are made by cutting a good strong- 

 wire into foot lengths and then bending a hook or loop at one 

 end. The pin is jabbed into the hay under the cap and thus 

 holds the corners down and the cap on. 



Summary. 

 Why grow Alfalfa? 



1. Alfalfa is pound for pound equal to thrashed oats. 



2. It pays better to grow alfalfa than to buy mill feeds. 



3. Alfalfa requires less work than is required to gi'ow other farm 

 crops. 



4. Growing animals, hens and dairy cows need lime, and alfalfa fur- 

 nishes most lime. 



5. Alfalfa is the most drought resistant farm c-rop. 



6. Alfalfa gives us most protein pev acre. 



7. Alfalfa does most to improve the soil because (o) it roots deepest; 

 (h) it gathers and stores in the soil most nitrogen. 



How TO GROW Alfalfa, 

 Six alfalfa secrets : — 



1. Good, well-drained soil. 



2. A good, rich, hard seed bed. 



3. Plenty of the right kind of lime. 



4. Good, acclimated, northern gi'own seed. 



5. Good, abundant soil or seed inoculation. 



6. Cut at the right time and cure in the right wav. 



