ALFALFA FOR DAIRY COWS. 387 
falfa hay they have increased 20 per cent in their 
milk flow.”’ 
This man is now growing his own alfalfa, and his 
neighbors are learning from his example. In his 
region the plant was unknown until he began its 
culture. The secret of growing it there was the use 
of plenty of lime in the soil, then manure, phos- 
phorus and mid-summer seeding. 
Value to Dairymen.—There is not a dairyman liv- 
ing who is not at too high an elevation who should 
not make effort to grow alfalfa, as no one else needs 
it so much. He ean stop the purchase of protein. 
He can keep cows in perfect health and vigor. He 
ean get the most milk that they are capable of giving 
if he has alfalfa. And he can, and should, feed it 
nearly day of the year. Let him begin early in 
spring by cutting it green and soiling; let him feed 
dry alfalfa hay when pastures are too lush and there 
is danger of cows scouring in June; let him feed it 
green when pastures fail in August and September; 
let him feed alfalfa hay and corn silage after frost 
comes, or before for that matter. Thus the milk 
comes freely the year around, and all from feed pro- 
duced on his own farm. 
A Inttle Grain Needed—With alfalfa and corn 
silage nearly a balanced ration is found. Very little 
grain need be fed in addition, though it is economy 
to feed a small amount, since cows need a little less 
bulk than it would take to furnish nutrients enough 
w alfalfa and silage alone. 
