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Grasses and legumes make up our most 
important crops. Northeastern agricul- 
ture is built around hay and pasture 
which supply much more than half of the 
digestible nutrients fed our livestock. 
Dairymen generally consider Alfalfa the most desirable 
legume. lf it grows well, they use it almost exclusively as the 
legume in hay mixtures. Where Alfalfa does not do well 
Medium Red Clover is used mainly with a sprinkling of 
Alfalfa which may do well in spots on the field. If there 
are low, wet spots a small amount of Alsike is recommended. 
Ladino Clover is used by some dairymen in all their mixtures, 
while others use it in place of Alsike. Ladino is most valuable 
in a hay mixture when the aftermath or second crop can 
be grazed. 
As a companion grass with legumes, Timothy has long 
been the most popular. More recently Smooth Brome Grass 
has come into use on the better Alfalfa land. On thin soils, 
which may be wet in the spring and dry in the summer, Red 
Top is often used in the mixture. 
There is no best hay mixture. Most farmers make up a 
mixture which is best adapted to their individual farm con- 
ditions. (Some of the mixtures most commonly used can be 
found on Page 14.) Only experience will answer what is 
best for your farm. However, more and more farmers who 

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