376 ALFALFA FARMING IN AMERICA. 



falfa was fed in moderation, less than the animal 

 desired, it is not likely that it would ever so affect 

 him. It is only nature's way of throwing off pro- 

 tein which has been consumed in excess of what the 

 animal could use. 



On Woodland Farm are horses that have grown 

 up on alfalfa and have never eaten any other hay 

 in their lives. Their kidneys are sound. They do 

 not urinate more frequently than is normal, nor 

 void an excess of urine. Further, their urine is 

 clear, not cloudy nor muddy. The fact is the trou- 

 bles arising from alfalfa feeding are usually ex- 

 perienced by men having little or no alfalfa to feed. 

 Ask a man who really grows it and feeds it and he 

 will almost always reply that there is no better 

 feed for horses and no bad results arise from reg- 

 ular and continued feeding of it. 



Alfalfa for Young Horses. There is certainly 

 nothing else so good for the draft colt and its moth- 

 er. Here one seeks size and development. Alfalfa 

 will surely give it. Let the mare have the run of an 

 alfalfa field in summer with a grass lot adjoining, 

 or have grass mixed through the alfalfa. Feed her 

 and her colt alfalfa hay in winter and as much 

 development can be had at two years old as will be 

 had at three by the usual feeding of timothy hay. 

 And there is nothing yet discovered to show that 

 this early growth is not as good as though it came 

 later. In truth it is certain that the later develop- 

 ing colt will never reach the size and conformation 



