44 HINTS ON RAISING FARM CROPS 
about 11 per cent protein in it, which is one- 
third more than clover contains, and more than 
three times the amount of protein contained in 
timothy hay. As this element, protein, is the 
highest priced feed the farmer has to feed, it 
can be readily seen that alfalfa is an extremely 
desirable crop on any farm. Alfalfa can be fed 
to hogs, sheep and poultry, as well as to cattle. 
Some farmers follow the practice of running 
it through the ensilage cutter, chopping it up 
fine for small pigs and poultry. It is greatly 
relished by these animals in this form. In some 
of the irrigated sections of the west, alfalfa 
is raised as a cash crop. It is baled by hay¬ 
baling machines, and shipped to different parts 
of the country, usually selling at a good price. 
The farmer does not now realize as high a 
profit by selling this hay as he formerly did, 
owing to the increased cost of transportation. 
But this obstacle has proved a blessing in dis¬ 
guise to some farmers, as they have been 
forced to stock up with more cattle to feed on 
the home farm, thereby increasing the fertility 
of their farm, and insuring a more steady in¬ 
come, especially in cases where they bought 
dairy cattle, and sold their cream to a creamery. 
CLOVERS 
Much of what has been said in regard to the 
proper methods of raising alfalfa can be ap¬ 
plied to clover. Clover is also what is known 
as a legume, or a plant that has nitrifying 
bacteria in its roots. There are quite a few 
(different species of clover, but we will confine 
