394 . ALFALFA FARMING IN AMERICA. 



it will take even more care the second time than it 

 did the first to accustom them safely to alfalfa, be- 

 cause they will be ravenous for it. 



The only exception to this rule is that it may be 

 advisable sometimes to allow them to go to the sheds 

 for s'hade in the middle of the day. If this is done 

 care should 'be taken that they are returned to the 

 alfalfa field as soon as they are willing to leave the 

 shade in the afternoon. 



Thus managed, the writer in an experience of sev- 

 eral years lost from 2 per cent to 4 per cent of the 

 flock from all causes during the pasturing season, 

 partly attributable to bloat. 



Varying Practice. — ^Regions differ as regards the 

 bloating effect of alfalfa. In some places it seems 

 to be impossible to pasture sheep on it at all. In 

 other places it is an easy thing to accomplish safely. 



In Arizona and New Mexico there is now a large 

 use of alfalfa pasture for lambing ewes in spring- 

 time. The same is true in parts of California. I 

 was told in California that along the Sacramento 

 there was much loss from bloating, while along the 

 San Joaquin and southward to the Imperial Valley 

 there was little or no loss at all. Perhaps the alfal- 

 fa along the Sacramento was more nearly unmixed 

 with grasses, or was of a more succulent nature. 



In Argentina millions of sheep and lambs are fat- 

 tened on alfalfa pasture, no grain being fed them. 

 Usually there is a natural admixture of grasses. 



On "Woodland Farm I practiced feeding lambs on 



