120 FORAGE PROBLEM 



Alfalfa is so valuable that even one good crop is a 

 paying investment. But we must not place all our hopes 

 upon it as absolutely safe, since even our most enthu- 

 siastic growers admit that the plant winter-kills on cer- 

 tain soils and under certain conditions. Some think that 

 a perfectly hardy alfalfa is not to be expected. But why 

 not ? Does buffalo grass ever winter-kill ? 



American experimenters have brought alfalfa from 

 Sweden and Russia and are greatly pleased with the 

 extremely vigorous, upright habits of growth, quick re- 

 covery after cutting, many stems and large leaves, the 

 abundant seed production, and the fact that the seeds are 

 tightly retained in the pods instead of shelling prema- 

 turely. The flowers vary greatly in color from blue to 

 yellow, ranging into green, dark violet and purple. 



This hybrid condition of the plants should be main- 

 tained in order to get the greatest amount of forage per 

 acre. From many successful experiments has come the 

 belief that the complete solution of the hardy alfalfa 

 question is in sight. 



No movement for the betterment of agriculture is more 

 general or extensive than that to provide silage for cattle. 

 The system has been slow in gaining a hold, but it is 

 coming with a rush now. For a time some of the large 

 milk dealers objected to silage as feed, but this opposition 

 was not justified, and has been withdrawn. 



Beef cattle are brought along faster and better with 

 silage for fodder than by any other method. Of course, 

 in all cases a light percentage of dry feed or roughage is 



needed. 



The silo has its use on a farm of any size.^ It brings 

 system and certainty into the farmer's affairs, and is 

 profitable from any point of view. A field of corn goes 

 about twice as far in silage as in the old method of 



feeding. 



It is generally conceded that silage which is several 



