ALFALFA. 1 19 



late in the fall, as that would leave the crown exposed and apt to be 

 winter-killed. 



Like Red Clover, Alfalfa when pastured may cause bloating, 

 especially in cattle and sheep, if the animals do not become accus- 

 tomed to it gradually. The danger is especially great on wet days 

 or when the plants are moist with dew. It is highly esteemed as 

 a pasture for hogs. If the field is divided into two or three parts 

 and pastured in rotation. Alfalfa is given a chance to recover and a 

 large number of hogs can be fed without injury to the field. 



Sowing for hay or pasture: Alfalfa can be sown with or 

 without a nurse crop, according to the cHmate and the soil. In 

 Ontario barley is generally used. Tests at the experimental farm at 

 Indian Head, Sask., show that in the Prairie Provinces it is advisable 

 to sow without any nurse crop, thus giving the plants the benefit 

 of all the moisture in the ground. The amount of seed to be sown 

 depends upon its quality and the soil, twenty to twenty-five pounds 

 to the acre being considered a reasonable amount. Good stands are 

 obtained by using a smaller amount of seed, but thick sowing will 

 produce hay and pasture of finer quality. 



Seed: At present Alfalfa is grown for seed to only a compara- 

 tively small extent in Canada. Its successful cultivation depends 

 above all on the weather during flowering and ripening time. If 

 moisture is abundant the plant will make a strong development of 

 its vegetative organs and the seed will be insignificant and poor. 

 The heaviest production is obtained when there is only enough moist- 

 ure in the soil to allow the seed to mature fully. The plants also 

 require plenty of light and room and for this reason a smaller amount 

 of seed should be sown than for hay or pasture ; ten to twelve pounds 

 of good seed gives the best results. Any one of the season's crops 

 can be used for seed, although there are several objections to the 

 first cutting. The insects which fertilize the flowers are less numerous 

 then than later, and the seed crop would therefore be rather light. 

 The flowering of the first crop is comparatively uneven, and the 

 quality of the seed is inferior. Leaving the first crop for seed means 

 a loss in hay, because after Alfalfa has produced seed the amount of 

 hay or pasture that can be secured is rather small. For these rea- 

 sons, it is advisable to cut the first crop for hay. Which of the 

 subsequent crops should be used for seed will depend upon the length 

 of the season and the weather. In Canada, the second crop will give 

 the best results. 



