8 
Bulletin 110 . 
alfalfa as it grows with us is much leafier than our common alfalfa. 
Individual plants differ in this respect as much as the recognized var¬ 
ieties so it is a difficult matter to obtain any figures which may be 
applicable except in individual cases. The best figures that we have 
been able to arrive at relatively to this subject, is that the leaves 
seldom if ever equal less than 40 per cent of the weight of the plant, 
and frequently make up 60 per cent of the weight of the plant. _ I he 
rest of the plant is, of course, represented by the stems. This is an 
important consideration, for I have seen hay which has lost a very 
large proportion of its leaves before it was put into stack. 
Importance of Saving the Leaves in Making Alfalfa Hay.— The 
preceding paragraph shows that we are justified in assuming that 
one-half of the weight of the plant as cut, is represented by the leaves. 
The importance of this fact in hay making becomes very apparent 
when we further learn that nearly four-fifths of the crude protein con¬ 
tained in the plant is found in the leaves, and only one-fifth in the 
stems. The leaves also contain considerably over one-halt ot the 
nitrogen free extract and fat, while the stems contain nine-elevenths ot 
the crude fiber. It appears from these facts that the leaves contain 
very considerably more than half of those matters which we consider 
as of the most value as fodder constituents, i. e., the crude protein, 
nitrogen free extract and fat, on the other hand the stems contain 
almost 3-4 of the crude fiber. 
This statement of these facts brings out the wisdom ot the prac¬ 
tice of raking the alfalfa into windrows as soon after cutting as is at 
all feasible, and stacking or putting it into the mow with as little hand¬ 
ling as possible. 
The Composition of Alfalfa Stems and Leaves.— It sometimes hap¬ 
pens that the leaves are very largely shaken off, and the hay consists 
principally of the stems. I have seen such in the cock which was not 
unlike fine brush. The leaves in such cases are evidently lost as far 
as the hav making is concerned, but the stems make a fair hay, too 
good to be neglected, which is evident from their composition which 
is given below, together with analyses of timothy and native hays 
and alfalfa leaves. 
Alfalfa Stems . 
Timothy Hay (Colo.) 
Timothy Hay (Colo) 
Native Hay (Colo.).. 
Alfalfa Leaves.. 
Moisture 
Ash 
Fat 
Protein 
Fibre 
Nitrogen- 
Free Extract 
. .5.71 
4.99 
0.85 
6.35 
54.32 
27.79 
. ..6.49 
9.34 
2.99 
5.62 
31.54 
43.99 
. .6.58 
7.21 
1.43 
7.45 
40.71 
36.52 
. .5.13 
10.64 
3.13 
6.98 
31.38 
42.74 
.. .4.93 
14.48 
2.96 
23.33 
13.15 
41.16 
The leaves are lost, it is true, so far as making hay is concerned 
but they add materially to the betterment of the soil. We never 
have hay consisting mostly of leaves, but in feeding sheep and cattle 
it is observed that they seem to prefer the leaves, and there, is often 
a considerable portion of stems left. The preceding analysis shows 
that these stems are good fodder and a horse will eat them readily. 
The composition of the leaves is given in the preceding table. 
