YIELDS AND COMPARISONS WITH OTHER CROPS 21 



hundred, thus saving many plowings and seedmgs. It 

 is also estimated that the stubble and root-growth of 

 alfalfa are worth at least four times as much for humus 

 as are those of clover, while the mechanical and other 

 beneficent effects of the long alfalfa roots far excel those 

 of clover. The alfalfa field is green for pasturage a 

 month earlier in the spring than clover and may be 

 mowed a month earlier. It starts a vigorous growth at 

 once after cutting, covering the ground with its luxu- 

 riant foliage before the second growth of clover has made 

 any substantial progress. 



The Wisconsin experiment station says that *'one acre 

 of alfalfa yields as much protein as three acres of clover, 

 as much as nine acres of timothy and twelve times as 

 much as an acre of brome grass." 



COIMPARISONS WITH SEVERAIi GRASSES. 



Plat No. 



I 



2 



4* 



5 

 6 



I 



9 

 lo 



XX 



I2t 



Variety Grown 



June Clover. 



Mammoth Clover 



Alsike Clover 



Alfalfa (first cutting) 26 



inches high, June 29th . . 



Blue-grass 



Orchard grass.. 



Timothy 



Red-top.. 



Meadow fescue.. 



Tall meadow oat grass 



Italian rye grass 



Timothy, blue-grass and 



orchard grass mixed. . . . . 



Hay, lbs. 



473 

 475 

 413 



816 



575 

 47S 

 560 

 470 



375 

 600 



203 



Yield per acre, lbs. 



3^365 



2,375 

 2,065 



4,080 

 2,875 



2,390 

 a,8oo 



2,350 

 1,875 

 3,000 



1,015 



*The alfalfa plat yielded a second cutting 26 inches high on August 2nd, and a 

 third 24 inches high September istj there was also a six-inch after-growth ettimated 

 at 180 pounds. The total alfalfa yield was equivalent, **approxiinately to 6 1-2 

 tons of good dry forage." None of the other clovers or grasses gave more than one 

 cutting. 



t Robbed somewhat of both plant food and moisture by an adjacent row of 

 grown Cottonwood trees. 



