39 



not been accustomed to green food, they should not be allowed in such 

 a pasture more than half or three-quarters of an hour. In the dry 

 regions of the West there Ls less danger in the use of Alfalfa for pas- 

 ture than elsewhere, and it is largely used there for that purpose, espe- 

 cially iu the fall after a crop or two of hay has been cut. There is con- 

 siderable danger, however, of the plant becoming killed out by close or 

 continued pasturing, as it does not stand grazing as well as the ordi- 

 nary grasses and clovers. For hay, the cutting should be done as soon 

 as the blossoms appear, otherwise it becomes hard and woody. Con- 

 siderable care is required to cure it properly, and prevent the loss of 

 the leaves in drying. The yield is so large, and the plant so succulent 

 at the time that it must be cut, that unless there is good weather, it is 

 difficult to cure; on this account it is used less for hay, except in dry 

 climates, than it otherwise would be. The increase in the cultivation 

 of Alfalfa has created a good demand for the seed, which has thus be- 

 come one of the most important items of profit iu ifcs cultivation. For 

 cleaning the seeds, F. 0. Clark, of Alila, Tulare County, California, 

 says : 



In this part of tho State, the ordinary grain thrasher is used. Some extra screens 

 are used, and a few changes made in the arrangement of the cylinder and concave 

 teeth. It is the opinion of some of the experienced Alfalfa thrashers, that a machine 

 combining the hulling process, and some of the machinery of the ordinary thrasher 

 would do better work. 



The seed is usually taken from the second crop, and the yield is greater 

 than that from red clover, frequently amounting to 10 or more bushels 

 per acre. 



The following reports are given from persons who have grown Alfalfa 

 in various parts of the country. 



J. R. Page, professor of agriculture, &c, University of Virginia: 



I have cultivated Alfalfa for forty years, both in the Tidewater and Piedmont re- 

 gions of Virginia, and I regard it as the most valuable forage plant the farmer can 

 cultivate for soiling. It is ready to be mowed by the first of May, and may he cut 

 three or four times during the season. Grazing kills it out. It should be top-dressed 

 with manure every fall, and plastered in the spring and after every mowing. 



Thomas S. Stadden, Clarke County, Virginia : 



Alfalfa is grown here to a limited extent. It does well in favorable localities, but 

 is hard to get set. It lasts four to six years. 



H. C. Parrot, Kinston, N. C: 



Alfalfa is adapted to rich, open soils in all the Southern States. It is excellent feed 

 either green or cured. It should be sown in drills 18 inches apart and cultivated the 

 first year. After it is well rooted, it will stand drought well, and crowd everything 

 else out. It will last from eight to sixteen years, according to soil and location. 



J. G. Knapp, United States State statistical agent, Limona, Southern 

 Florida : 



Many peisons in Florida have experimented with this plant, so valuable in other 

 regions, but nearly all have failed. Sometimes a plant which has come up in the fall 

 and survived the winter has bloomed, but no roots have lived through the wet warm 

 months of summer. I remember that in New Mexico, whenever it was desirable to de- 

 stroy the Alfalfa, in order to plow the ground, the surface was covered with water 



