l66 THE BOOK OF ALFALFA 



method, he says, is less, quality and rapidity of their 

 growth considered, than by any other of which he has 

 knowledge. 



The well-known J. E. Wing, of Ohio, says : *'There 

 is no one thing so good for the work horse as alfalfa. He 

 needs less grain, and has more life and spirit than when 

 fed upon any other hay, yet even working teams can, on 

 account of its richness, be fed too much. This puts an 

 undue strain upon their excretory organs to eliminate 

 the unnecessary food substances from the tissues. The 

 overfeeding of alfalfa hay to horses has in some localities 

 caused the use of it to become unpopular, and to raise an 

 outcry against it. The writer has fed no other hay to his 

 horses — working teams, driving horses, marcs and foals 

 — for many years, and has yet to observe the first instance 

 of evil result, save that the driving horses w^hen not used 

 regularly become soft and easily sweated. ' 



GOOD FOR WORK HOrSES. 



Until recently it was not thought in the eastern states 

 that alfalfa was an especially good feed for horses. On 

 the somewhat noted Watson ranch at Kearney, Nebras- 

 ka, the grain supply became exhausted one summer when 

 the prices were high. There was an abundance of alfalfa 

 hay, and although it was in August and the horses were 

 at heavy work, such as plowing and ditching, the entire 

 force of eighty was kept on alfalfa hay and but little 

 grain, without any injurious effect. They relished the 

 hay, did the hard work every day and looked as sleek as 

 if on pasture. Since that time alfalfa hay has been the 

 principal ration for all of the farm's work horses, colts 

 and driving stock. 



