8 
THE COLORADO EXPERIMENT STATION 
PAGE 
of alfalfa, pea vine and clover ensilages, p. 33. The pea vine 
ensilage was made from pea vines after the peas had been 
threshed out for canning purposes. The ash in alfalfa ensil¬ 
age is much higher than in the hay, indicating a considerable 
loss of dry matter. 
Alfalfa ensilage is eaten freely by cattle. The so-called 
“brown hay” is alfalfa hay which has passed through a fer¬ 
mentation in the stack and is considered an excellent fodder 
for cattle. Alfalfa ensilage is easily damaged by putrefactive 
fermentation. 
Analysis of damaged alfalfa ensilage, p. 34. 
Plant Food taken from the Soil by Alfalfa .... 35-37 
Leguminous plants such as alfalfa are considered as nitrogen 
gatherers, and when they are incorporated with the soil in 
which they have grown add nitrogen to it, but when they are 
removed it is questionable whether this is so or not. 
The ash content obtained from our samples probably repre¬ 
sents the normal amount which a healthy alfalfa plant will 
take up. 
Table showing the pounds of the various plant foods removed 
by 1,000 pounds of alfalfa hay. One ton first cutting alfalfa 
hay removes 143 pounds of ash constituents; one of second 
cutting., 165 pounds, and one of third cutting, 127 pounds. 
Carbon, carbonic acid, and sand not reckoned. One ton clo¬ 
ver hay removes 128 pounds of ash constituents. 
Alfalfa Seeds. 37-44 
Analysis of seeds, p. 31; analysis of ash, p. 92. Description 
and size of alfalfa seed, prime seed, 1st, 2d and 3d quality of 
screenings, p. 38. Amount of seed sown to the acre, p. 39. 
• . « 
What Constitutes a Good Stand of Alfalfa .... 39-40 
Hay produced by single plants in thick and light stands. 
Number of stems thrown up by individual plants, p. 41. Stems 
produced by plants having much space are not larger than 
those produced by plants which are crowded; the size of the 
stems is influenced by other conditions. The amount of seed 
necessary to produce a good stand depends upon the vitality 
of the seed and the vigor of the plants produced. 
Vitality of Alfalfa Seed. 4 I_ 44 
Alfalfa seed said to be low in vitality. Experiments made to 
refute this statement. Description of samples of seeds used. 
How the experiment were made. Results of experiments p. 
43. “Hard Seed” explained and germinating power given, 
p. 43. Duration of experiment, three days, sufficient to form 
