PRACTICAL EXPERIENCES 3I3 



twice, obtaining two tons each cutting. I cut for hay 

 just as it comes into bloom, as it is not so woody 

 and more leaves are saved. The first cutting is prefer- 

 able for seed. When cutting for seed, wait until the curls 

 get wet filled and black ; put it into cocks and thresh when 

 dry. Alfalfa hay should be cut one day and raked the 

 next ; then cock, and let it stand two or three days before 

 stacking; by so doing all the leaves are saved, and it cures 

 in the cock so there is no danger of molding in the stack. 

 My alfalfa in stack costs $i per ton, from land valued at 

 $5 per acre. Irrigation costs 20 cents per acre. Baling 

 costs $3 per ton, 150 pounds in bale. Seed yields six 

 bushels per acre; threshing costs $1 per bushel. Prices 

 for hay have ranged from $5 to $10 per ton, and $7 per 

 bushel for seed. Alfalfa hay is equal to clover or timothy 

 for farm animals. For swine pasturage it is better than 

 clover; one acre will pasture 10 head of swine, gaining one 

 pound per head each day. For horses and sheep it is good, 

 and as good for cattle as clover, but dangerous, as they 

 bloat and die. The best yields on upland are from three to 

 five years after seeding ; and, if watered at proper inter- 

 vals, it will last 20 years. There is no difficulty in ridding 

 land of alfalfa; plow it late in the fall, level it down and 

 mark it, then water, and let it freeze up in winter. Alfalfa- 

 for green manure is as good or better than Red clover. 

 Without plenty of rain, I would not recommend growing 

 alfalfa in any locality. Seed raised from alfalfa thin on 

 the ground is best. 



John H. Gordon, Laramie county. — During the past 10 

 years, I have had from 10 to 200 acres of alfalfa on sec- 

 ond bottom and upland, with sandy loam from two inches 



