THIRTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL CONVENTION. 167 



The above table shows the relative efficiency of the four sys- 

 tems. 



To indicate actual tested results as found by the Experi- 

 ment Station in a full year's record, in each case, six dairy farms 

 of from 151 acres to 350 acres in the Elgin district, carrying 

 from 43 to 80 cows which were much alike in production, yield- 

 ed the following respective amounts of milk per acre: 994 

 pounds, 1,137 pounds, 1,341 pounds, 1,412 pounds and 2,145 

 pounds. Only one of these farms compares favorably with the 

 second best of the four systems described in this address, and it 

 produced about two-thirds as much per acre as the corn and 

 alfalfa system. It must be considered that on these farms large 

 amounts of commercial feeds were purchased. 



Member : Tell us how to raise alfalfa. 



Prof. Fraser : It is a long story; alfalfa is being successful- 

 ly raised in several counties in Illinois at the present time; you 

 can grow it if you learn how. You must study the proposition. 



Member: Is it good to pasture alfalfa? 



Prof. Fraser: It is not a good thing to pasture alfalfa and 

 it is not a safe thing to do. 



Member: What do you recommend for pasturing 



Prof. Fraser : The alfalfa will run to blue grass, then 

 pasture it. 



Member: What are the difficulties in raising alfalfa? 



Prof. Fraser : It is getting a stand. It is tender at first 

 after three or four years it is tough. You must first get the 

 ground clear of weds — weeds will choke it. Sow at the right 

 time of the year. We sow the last of July or the first of Aug- 

 ust. We have never lost a stand yet where we sowed it that way 

 and had the ground properly prepared. It takes the use of the 

 land for one year to get a stand. 



