338 ALFALFA FARMING IN AMERICA. 



Danger from Bloat. — There are stages in the 

 growth of alfalfa when it is much more apt to bloat 

 stock than at other times. When the soil is moist 

 and the weather warm and growth rapid, when the 

 soil is very rich also, there is induced a very rank 

 growth that is quite apt to cause trouble. This 

 danger is worst when the alfalfa is young and ten- 

 der ; increasing safety comes with advancing matur- 

 ity until, when it is thoroughly in bloom, there seems 

 little danger to animals accustomed to its use. 



Perhaps there is never absolute safety in pastur- 

 ing sheep and cows on alfalfa, yet the writer has for 

 many years pastured valuable sheep all summer on 

 alfalfa, with a run on grass when they wished ; and 

 in some years his loss has been so trifling as to 

 be not worth considering, while occasionally it has 

 been necessary to take the sheep off for a time to 

 allow the alfalfa to harden up. In several years' 

 experience with cattle he has lost but one, and 

 that one from permitting it to graze very im- 

 mature alfalfa that had been mown about two weeks 

 and that, owing to the nature of the soil, was mak- 

 ing a very rank growth. There is never danger with 

 pigs so that they are not too hungry when first 

 turned on the alfalfa, nor with horses if it is not too 

 watery and immature. 



It is, however, an art to accustom animals to eat- 

 ing alfalfa in pasture. The plants should have made 

 a considerable growth, almost having reached the 

 blooming stage, before being turned on. 



