178 CLOVERS 



fed to them too freely at the first, it induces too 

 much of a laxity in the bowels, too free urination, 

 and profuse sweating. When fed to such horses or 

 mules, some authorities claim that several weeks 

 should be covered in getting them on to what is 

 termed a "full feed" of alfalfa. When fed to milch 

 cows, free lactation results. Alfalfa fine in char- 

 acter is now manufactured into food suitable for 

 calves and other young stock. Cattle and sheep 

 are now fattened for slaughter on alfalfa hay fed 

 alone, but when thus fattened the finish made is not 

 equal to that resulting from adding grain to the 

 alfalfa. To meet the needs of the best markets, 

 alfalfa alone does not produce enough of fat or of 

 firmness in the flesh, but it has been claimed, and 

 probably it is true, that one-half the amount of 

 grain required for finishing along with carbona- 

 ceous fodder, such as corn stalks or timothy, 

 will give equally good and quick increase when fed 

 with alfalfa hay. It is most excellent fodder on 

 which to grow cattle and sheep, even in the absence 

 of a grain supplement. The later cuttings of the 

 season are thought to be the most suitable for 

 calves and also for sheep and lambs, because of the 

 greater fineness of the fodder and the greater abun- 

 dance of leaves on it. Alfalfa hay is used with 

 much advantage in wintering swine, especially brood 

 sows. Swine have been wintered on alfalfa hay 

 without any grain supplement where the winters are 

 mild, but they will fare much better with a grain 

 supplement. It is thought that half the- usual 

 amount of grain fed will produce equal results when 



