PRACTICAL EXPERIENCES 259 



acre for seed, 20 pounds for hay, and 30 pounds for past- 

 ure, usually about March 15 here. We mow the weeds 

 the first year before they seed, leaving them qn the 

 ground. After this, there will be a yield of three-fourths 

 to two tons of hay, or one to six bushels of seed to the 

 acre, depending on the season. In two or three years the 

 plant is at its best, and does not seem to need reseeding 

 after that. We have from three to five crops a year 

 depending on promptness in watering and cutting. Any 

 later cutting is better than the first for seed, and, 

 before cutting, two-thirds of the seed pods should be 

 black. We mow, then rake and cock at once, stacking as 

 soon as well cured. Hay should be cut when it is coming 

 into bloom. To make good hay, let it lie for half a day 

 (if dry weather), then rake and cock, and let cure thor- 

 oughly. We stack in long ricks, and it keeps well. The 

 alfalfa land is valued at $50 an acre, and the four irriga- 

 tions cost 25 cents each; the estimated cost of the alfalfa 

 in the stack is $2.15 a ton. An average yield of seed is 

 three bushels to the acre, and the cost of threshing and 

 cleaning it is 80 cents a bushel. Hay has sold for $5 a 

 ton, and seed for 6, 8 and 10 cents a pound. The threshed 

 hay is not so good as that cut earlier, but cattle eat it all 

 clean. The pasture is excellent for horses, hogs, and 

 cattle. If the alfalfa is wet, it is liable to cause bloating 

 with sheep; for cattle, there is not much danger, except 

 for the first few days they are turned on. If the animal 

 is seen in time, it may be relieved by driving around, but 

 if too bad to be helped in that way, it needs the trocar. I 

 have had 50 hogs on six acres of pasture this summer, 

 and have 50 pigs, 3 to 12 weeks old; used two bushels 



