Page 45

SOUTHIERN Wis. Ctij i.si Mo iKRs' & DAIRVMEN'S ASS'N. 45
ALFALFA OR LUCERN.
Professor R. A. Moore, Wisconsin Experiment Station.
No forage crop has come to the front with such great
promise as that of alfalfa. Ten years ago it was practically-
unknown in Wisconsin and now thousands of farmers are
growing it successfully. Alfalfa is the crop that is largely
instrumental in now  maintaining our great live stock
industry of the west and it will soon be the mainstay of the
dairy products thruout our country.
A large portion of the income of the dairymen is spent for
high protein feeds used to balance the feeding ration for
dairy cows with carbonaceous feeds which are now grown
generally upon the farms. With the advent of alfalfa the
protein can be grown near at hand upon the farm at a great
saving to the farmer in time and money.
Alfalfa is not only a good feed for dairy cattle but is also
an excellent feed for all kinds of live stock. Sheep, hogs
and poultry are as fond of it as dairy cattle and will make
good gains when alfalfa forms a portion of the ration.
Testing the Seed.
Previous to sowing alfalfa the farmer should send to
different seed companies and get samples of seed and make
a germinating test as much of the seed put upon the market
is low in vitality. A satisfactory test can be made by using
two plates with cotton flannel pads. One plate should be a
trifle smaller then the other and used as a cover. The pads
should be dampened and one put on the lower plate. One