PRACTICAL EXPERIENCES 283 



have three cuttings, yielding about 3000 pounds of cured 

 hay per acre per cutting. When the plant is fairly well 

 in bloom, it is cut, and is best when cured under large 

 sheds or in the shade. If left until dry where cut, the 

 foliage will fall off and pulverize. It is best to stack in 

 narrow ricks, as it is liable to heat if put in large stacks, 

 and it should be salted liberally when stacked. The last 

 cutting is preferred for seed, which is mowed when most 

 of the pods are well matured ; in this case only two crops 

 should be cut during the year. The straw makes good 

 feed for stock in winter, having about half the value of 

 the hay. Each irrigation costs about 50 cents per acre, 

 and the total cost of hay in the stack is about $3.50 per 

 ton. Baling costs $1.25 per ton, with 50 cents additional 

 for wire. The common yield of seed is 6 to 10 bushels 

 from the acre. "Reeves" clover huller will thresh about 

 12 bushels per hour. The price of hay, baled, in New 

 Mexico has averaged about $8 per ton for the past eight 

 years, and seed for the same time about $5 per bushel. 

 Our experience indicates that alfalfa hay is a more nutri- 

 tious food for farm animals than either clover or timothy. 

 We have found nothing better to feed cattle for market ; 

 it makes good, solid beef, and they take on fat very fast. 

 The pasturage is excellent for swine, horses, and cattle. 

 If overfed, animals will sometimes bloat on rank alfalfa, 

 especially if unaccustomed to it. About the third year 

 from seeding, the plant has acquired its best yield. It is dif- 

 ficult to rid land of it, as plowing under is sometimes bene- 

 ficial, making it come up thicker than before. Success 

 with it on high prairies depends upon the precipitation 

 during the growing season. We think four inches of 



