GREEN FORAGE AND HAY CROPS 115 
acre. When well established and cared for, alfalfa will yield large 
crops for a series of years—at least in the West and Southwest, 
where the plants are not weakened by rigorous cold of winter. 
Weeds that may appear in the first cutting will be choked out by 
the alfalfa if cut before seeding, and later cuttings will give a clean 
hay. As already stated, foxtail is often a bad weed in western 
alfalfa fields early in the season, so that the first cutting of hay 
may cause trouble in feeding cattle, sheep, or pigs on account of 
the rough bristles of the foxtail heads. If this cutting is placed 
in the silo, there will be no difficulty in this respect, as the foxtail 
heads are softened in the siloing process (p. 158). 
Fie. 16.—Alfalfa will furnish an abundance of green feed throughout the growing 
season. It is rapidly becoming one of the most valuable forage crops in the country. 
(Pacific Rural Press.) 
Composition of Alfalfa.—Alfalfa is one of the. richest forage 
crops American farmers can grow.. It contains more protein than 
any of the leguminous plants used for feeding purposes, with the 
possible exception of sweet clover, peas, and vetches. A good quality 
of alfalfa hay contains at least 15 per cent protein, 2 per cent fat, 
and about 25 per cent fiber, while the lower grades contain less than 
10 per cent of protein and over 30 per cent fiber. Compared with red 
clover, alfalfa furnishes a heavier yield of hay that contains more 
protein than clover, and, once established, it will occupy the land 
for a considerable period, while clover, being a biennial, must be re- 
seeded every three years. Alfalfa has a high digestibility and is 
greatly relished by all classes of farm animals. It is used in four 
different ways for feeding, as soiling crop, for hay, silage, or for 
pasture. It is one of our most valuable green feeds, especially for 
cattle, hogs, and sheep; its protein content renders it a highly de- 
sirable feed for dairy cows and young stock. As it has a nutritive 
