260 Report oF THE First ASssIsTANT OF THE 
grain foods, in general cheaper than those used with corn forage, 
can be fed with alfalfa. The more highly nitrogenous grains 
and hays fed with corn forage or silage, however, have a much 
higher manurial value, which fact is often of wide importance. 
The palatability of alfalfa or of corn (maize) is greater than of 
most other forage plants of rapid growth that will yield heavy 
crops. This isa matter of the greatest importance, for while 
the milk may temporarily be produced at the expense of loss in 
weight of the animal, the flow of milk must be sustained by the 
food taken in excess of that necessary for maintenance. 
Any discussion of the general fluctuations of milk yield as 
influenced by the proportions of the different constituents of the 
food, and by the nutritive ratio of the ration, is reserved until 
some data from winter rations fed for longer periods shall be 
published. 
ReEMARES CoNCERNING THE CULTIVATION OF ALFALFA. 
For those who are unacquainted with alfalfa a few general 
facts concerning the plant may be briefly mentioned here to 
advantage. Alfalfa (JZedicago sativa), sometimes called lucerne, 
although not generally known in this part of the country, has 
been in cultivation for a long time. It was cultivated by the 
Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, and in later centuries by the 
nations of the warmer parts of Europe. It was early introduced 
into South America and brought from there to Mexico and 
California. ; 
Alfalfa being a leguminous plant like the clovers and able to 
gather nitrogen that is not available to most plants, will, when 
the crop is fed on the farm, enrich the soil in this necessary ele- 
ment and leave a field in improved condition when finally plowed 
under. The long tap root with its numerous branches reaches 
deep in the sub-soil (roots often reach to a depth of 10 or 12 
feet— are said sometimes to extend over 20 feet) and is often 
able to obtain plant food and water for the lack of which surface — 
feeding plants may be suffering. The plant is a perennial and 
when once well established will yield paying crops for an indefi- 
nite number of years if the field is not overrun with grass or 
plantain. 
Alfalfa grows well on widely varying kinds of top soil, but the 
subsoil must be open and porous. It does best on a warm and 

