PRACTICAL EXPERIENCES 3O9 



timothy, and equal to clover for cattle, but the seed must 

 form in it to make it valuable for working horses. After 

 cutting three crops in a season, I usually use the field in 

 the fall for pasturing cattle, and it furnishes nearly double 

 the feed that Red clover will, acre for acre. For hogs 

 the pasturage is much better than clover, and I sow with 

 blue grass and clover, on rich ground. For horses and 

 sheep the pasturage is better than clover, but causes bloat 

 in the same way. It is difficult to plow up alfalfa, but 

 continued cultivation will rid land of it when desired. 



Oscar Dmrnheller, Walla Walla county. — Have grown 

 alfalfa for six years, and now have 150 acres, part on 

 bottom, some on clay, and a part on slightly sandy soil ; 

 subsoil is a thin layer of hardpan; below that a sort of 

 gumbo, and underneath that a white clay. Abundant 

 water is found at 10 to 18 feet, moist soil reaching to the 

 water. Our land requires no special preparation for 

 alfalfa; manure is spread on weak spots; we sow 20 

 pounds of seed broadcast, about May ist, and harrow 

 once to cover. Some cut it the first year; some years the 

 crop is not worth touching for either hay or seed ; there 

 is no trouble here from winterkilling. We never irrigate. 

 The first cutting yields about three tons, the second, about 

 two and one-half tons, the third, about two tons, and the 

 fourth, one ton. For hay, cutting should begin when in 

 f ulL bloom ; we never cut for seed, but the first crop Is 

 best. The season must govern the time for curing, 

 whether 2 days or 10; it will heat and mold if not dry 

 before stacking; no choice in size of stacks. On land 

 worth $40 per acre, it costs about $1.50 per ton to grow 

 and put alfalfa in the stack; baling costs $1.50 to $2 per 



