38 



will be more vigorous and yield more seed, though they will be coarser 

 and less desirable for feed. 



Drill-culture gives the best results, especially if the soil be dry or 

 weedy. The drills may be 12 to 18 inches apart, according to the tool 

 to be employed in cultivation. The seed if sown broadcast may be 

 sown alone or with grain, but it generally gives the best results when 

 sown alone. It is often sown with oats with good results, but in a wet 

 season it is liable to be smothered out unless the grain is sown quite 

 thin. After the first year the harrow may be employed to advantage, 

 and even a narrow plow, of such form as will not cut the roots too se- 

 verely, is sometimes used with good effect, especially where the plauting 

 is in rows. In all cases where weeds are inclined to appear it is desir- 

 able to give some kind. of cultivation every year. This is not so impor- 

 tant where the plant is irrigated as elsewhere. In much of the country 

 reaching from Texas to the Pacific, irrigation is only essential the first 

 year, or until the roots have penetrated deeply into the soil, though the 

 crop is greatly increased by an abundant supply of moisture at all times 

 In parts of California and adjoining States Alfalfa is grown only by 

 irrigation, and this must sometimes be resorted to, even when not es- 

 sential for the growth of the crop, in order to kill the gophers, which 

 are liable to destroy the plants, by eating off the roots a few inches 

 below the surface. Immediate irrigation will also prevent many of the 

 plants so eaten off from dying. 



Alfalfa should be neither mowed nor pastured until it has made a 

 considerable growth and becomes well established. 



HARVESTING, FEEDING, ETC. 



Alfalfa is perhaps best known in most localities as a soiling plant. 

 For this purpose it has scarcely a superior. It may be cut repeatedly 

 during the season, furnishing a large amount of nutritious forage, which 

 is relished by all kinds of stock. It is said to be less liable than clover 

 to cause slobbers in horses. There is some danger, however, especially 

 to cattle, in feeding it while wet or very succulent r of its causing bloat 

 or hoven. On this account it* is a good plan to feed it in the green state 

 in connection with straw or hay, or to let it lie several hours to become 

 partially wilted before being fed. 



It is when used as pasture that the greatest danger occurs in the use 

 of Alfalfa. Many have used it for years, both for soiling and as pas- 

 ture, without any injurious results, but numerous instances have been 

 reported where cattle have bloated and died from eating too freely of 

 it when succulent or wet. In some instances cattle have been kept 

 upon it from the time it started in spring until June or July, with no 

 evil results, and then, when the growth has become very rank, or been 

 wet with dew or rain, they have been taken with bloat. The danger is 

 greater, as is well known, when cattle are suddenly turned into a rank 

 growth and allowed to eat all they will. If cattle are hungry, or have 



