136 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION 



Alfalfa and Alfalfa. 



It will not do to say that alfalfa is alfalfa. Bleached 

 in the sun and raked when dry, it may be only the faded 

 and tasteless semblance of alfalfa, the stick and skeleton of 

 the former plant that was rich and fat with nutriment and 

 most inviting to the palate. Half its value may be gone and 

 yet it may resemble alfalfa. The cows will not eat half 

 enough of this poor stuff, and if they ate twice the ordinary 

 weight of it, still it would not fill its place in the ration for 

 its most valuable properties are gone or greatly reduced. 

 It is no longer the good alfalfa hay of which we have been 

 speaking. 



The methods of handling alfalfa in this demonstration 

 preserved its good qualities and are not difficult to apply; 

 they reduce the uncertainty and the difficulty of the pro- 

 cess. It is a great advantage to cure the hay slowly in the 

 cock instead of rapidly in the bleaching swath. The caps 

 are insurance against bad weather and a big loss. Without 

 caps, a long rain means ruined hay and an ordinary rain 

 means at least bleached and damaged hay. But with caps, 

 the hay may be cocked promptly while green and retain all 

 its leaves; and once under caps, it is comparatively safe for 

 several days. 



Extra Cost Fully Warranted. 



The cost of caps and the extra labor involved in putting 

 up alfalfa in the way described, gives a great advantage 

 and there is no possible question but that it pays a big re- 

 turn to thus properly cure the alfalfa that is to be fed to 

 high producing cows. From practical experience the writer 

 knows full well the press of work on the farm when the 

 first crop of alfalfa is ready to cut. But from this demon- 

 stration and from observation upon many farms for many 

 years he is very positive that the alfalfa should be cured in 

 cocks under caps wherever the labor can possibly be se- 

 cured. 



