302 THE BOOK OF ALFALFA 



horses, but for drivers timothy is preferred. Alfalfa is 

 considered better than clover by our hog raisers; 

 it makes good pasturage for horses, and is better 

 than Red clover for cattle. If cattle are kept con- 

 tinually on the alfalfa, they are not very likely to bloat; 

 the trouble arises from turning hungry animals on it. 

 We use a gag, made of a stick about three inches in diam- 

 eter, to force the mouth open, but sometimes have to 

 make an opening in the paunch with a knife. Irrigation 

 seems to improve the quantity without increasing the 

 quality. The early cut hay has at least 20 per cent more 

 value than the straw from the seed crop; we have had 

 very good results from feeding the straw, as it always 

 contains more or less seed. Alfalfa sown on clay soil, 

 with hardpan subsoil, gradually dies out after two or 

 three years; also when water is near the surface; when 

 the roots reach water too near by, the plant dies. Sown 

 on good sandy loam, it reaches its best yield about the 

 second year; on heavier soils, about the third year. We 

 have alfalfa 20 years old, as vigorous and good to yield 

 as when started. It is preferable to clover for turning 

 under, as the large roots make more manure, and the tops 

 are much heavier. We grow alfalfa on our uplands 

 without irrigation, but it requires two or three years 

 to get a start; the first year, it makes a growth of 8 or 

 10 inches, and wilts; second year, it grows a little taller, 

 thickens up somewhat, and then, apparently, dies; the 

 third year, it gains in height and strength, and yields 

 a good crop, or even two crops, according to the subsoil. 

 If the subsoil is hardpan, I would not predict the result 

 as worth the effort. I do not see how Utah would get 



