254 DAIRY FARMING 



practical feeding trials have shown that good alfalfa hay 

 has, pound for pound, the same value for milk produc- 

 tion as wheat bran. It is generally known that red clover 

 and other kinds of clover are rich in protein, but alfalfa 

 is still richer in protein. 



Where conditions are favorable for growing alfalfa, 

 there is perhaps no general farm crop that yields so great 

 returns from an acre of land as alfalfa, especially when 

 considering its favorable effect upon the soil. In favored 

 localities alfalfa can be cut four times during each sea- 

 son, yielding from four to five tons per acre. 



The roots of alfalfa penetrate the soil to great depths 

 and for this reason, when once established, alfalfa will 

 flourish during dry seasons when ordinary crops fail. 

 Moreover, the deep root system of alfalfa enables it to 

 obtain plant food from such soil depths as are entirely 

 beyond the reach of ordinary farm plants. 



Alfalfa is a plant highly relished by all classes of live 

 stock, though it cannot be as successfully grazed, perhaps, 

 as red clover, at least not until it has passed through the 

 second season; but, unlike red clover, alfalfa will con- 

 tinue to yield good crops of hay many years without re- 

 planting. It is well to remember that alfalfa does not 

 thrive everywhere. It requires a well drained soil rich 

 in lime and containing the right kind of bacteria. In 

 limestone regions where sweet clover flourishes, alfalfa 

 probably grows at its best. This plant is so valuable to 

 dairymen that none can afford not to try to grow it. 



LEGUME HAY AND CORN SIIyAGE. 



Where a liberal allowance of rich legume hay is fed 

 in conjunction with corn silage, little grain or concen- 



