254 Illinois State Dairymen s Association. 



August will generally be advisable. Otherwise clipping should 

 only be practiced when the growth seems checked, or the tops of 

 the plants turn yellow. If not too heavy the cut materially should 

 be left on the ground to act as a mulch. All growth after the 

 middle of September should be allowed to die down naturally for 

 protection to the roots over winter. 



Cutting for Hay. 



When alfalfa is used for hay-making it should be mowed 

 whenever about one-tenth of it has come into bloom, regardless 

 of size. In ordinary seasons this will be about the end of May, 

 the first of July and the early part of August, and a good field 

 will often yield four cuttings. 



The general treatment in curing the hay is the same as that 

 for clover, but great care must be exercised in handling it to 

 avoid breaking off and losing the leaves, which dry quickly and 

 are then very brittle. 



Pasturing. 



Alfalfa should never be pastured the first season, and in 

 many cases it will be best to use it for mowing during the second 

 season,, in order that it may become thoroughly established before 

 animals are allowed to tramp over it. It should never be pastured 

 closely, as close pasturing injures the crowns of the plants. 

 Horses and sheep are more likely to do damage in this way than 

 are cattle or hogs. Alfalfa makes excellent pasture for all kinds 

 of live stock, and it is especially desirable for hogs during hot 

 weather. With cattle and sheep care must be exercised to avoid 

 bloating. At first the animals should be turned in for only a short 

 time each day until they become accustomed to it, and when the 

 alfalfa is wet, as after a rain, there is still greater need of care. 

 It is wise to be a little more careful than with clover. 



Additional Notes. 



Alfalfa is used to feed all kinds of farm live stock, from 

 chickens to horses. 



It will yield from 3 to 6 tons of excellent hay per acre per 

 season, according to the fertility of the soil. 



It is rich in flesh forming nutrients and is excellent for feed- 

 ing with com or other starchy foods. 



It is more digestible than red clover and is not far behind 

 wheat bran in feeding value. 



