A STUDY OF ALFALFA AND SOME 
OTHER HAYS. 
Wm. P. HEADDEN, A.M., Pm.D. 
The following pages are not intended as a continuation 
of Bulletin No. 35, although in a certain sense they form a 
part of that study. The work done on Bulletin No. 35, was 
undertaken with the view of examining the changes pro- 
duced in the soil by continuous cropping to alfalfa, and, as 
published, claims to be a record of the work done on the 
plant — a study preliminary to that of the soil proper. We 
have been compelled, so far, to content ourselves with that 
work as published. There arose some questions in connec- 
tion with that study which could not be discussed at the 
time, because our observations had not been extended 
enough, and we could not draw upon the results of observa- 
tions still to be made. We shall, therefore, be compelled 
to connect portions of this bulletin rather closely with por- 
tions of Bulletin No. 35. The object of this bulletin, how- 
ever, is to present a study of hays, more especially, hays 
made from leguminous plants — alfalfa, clover, and pease — 
though we shall discuss other hays to some extent. 
We have attempted in this study to go beyond the 
routine methods of such investigations and to contribute to 
a better interpretation of the data obtained by the old meth- 
ods in terms of much narrower and more definitely studied 
groups whose chemical composition, at least, if not their 
feeding value, is either already better known or susceptible 
of determination. In regard to their feeding value, too, we 
gain a more rational basis for evaluation than has been pos- 
sible under our old methods and conventionalities. 
