I 66 CLOVERS 



in the mountain valleys, when as far north as Cen- 

 tral Montana, may be practiced with little or no 

 hazard to the stand of plants when these have be- 

 come well established. In such areas alfalfa may be 

 grazed practically as may be desired, providing this 

 grazing is not too close. 



Cattle injure alfalfa less than other animals when 

 they graze upon it, as they do not crop it too closely ; 

 swine injure it more, if the grazing is constant. 

 Horses do even greater injury, through biting the 

 crowns of the plants too closely; but sheep injure 

 alfalfa pastures more than any of these animals, 

 when the grazing is close, owing to the extent to 

 which they trim off the leaves. 



As Soiling Food. — For being fed as soiling 

 food, alfalfa has the very highest adaptation, owing, 

 I. To the long period covered by the growth. 2. To 

 the rapidity of the growth resulting in large relative 

 production. 3. To the palatability of the green food 

 produced. 4. To the entire safety to the animals fed. 

 And 5. To its high feeding value. In Louisiana, 

 for instance, alfalfa may be made to furnish soiling 

 food for nine months in the year. In the North, of 

 course, the duration of production is much less, but 

 it is seldom less than five months. The growth is 

 so rapid that cuttings for soiling food may usually 

 be made at intervals of four to six weeks, according 

 to season and climate; hence, the cuttings for soil- 

 ing food will run all the way from two to eight or 

 nine each season. It is so palatable that horses, 

 mules, cattle, sheep and swine relish it highly. When 

 wilted a little before being fed, the danger of pro- 



