ALFALFA 159 



from a given area in localities well . adapted to its 

 growth. Swine are very fond of it. Some growers 

 do not feed any grain supplement to their swine 

 when grazing on alfalfa, but it is generally believed 

 that, under average conditions, it is wise to sup- 

 plement the alfalfa pasture daily with a light feed of 

 grain, carbonaceous in character, as of rye, corn 

 or barley, and that this should be gradually in- 

 creased with the advancement of the grazing season. 

 One acre of alfalfa will provide pasture for 5 to 

 15 head of swine, through all the grazing season, 

 dependent upon the degree of the favorable char- 

 acter of the conditions for growth in the alfalfa, the 

 age of the swine, and the extent to which the pas- 

 ture is supplemented with grain. But in some in- 

 stances the area named will graze at least 15 hogs 

 through all the growing season without a grain 

 supplement. 



Swine may be turned in to graze on alfalfa when 

 well set, as soon as it begins to grow freely in the 

 spring. It should be so managed that the grazing 

 will be kept reasonably tender and succulent. For 

 swine pasture the plants should never be allowed to 

 reach the blossoming stage. This can be managed 

 by running the field mower over the pasture occa- 

 sionally when the stems are growing long and 

 coarse. • Close and prolonged grazing by swine will 

 tend to shorten the period of the life of the alfalfa. 

 The extent to which this result will follow will de- 

 pend upon soil and climatic conditions and the close- 

 ness of the grazing. To avoid such a result and 

 also to secure the utilization of the food to the ut- 



