The Muskogee cimeter. [volume] (Muskogee, Indian Territory, Okla.) 1901-19??, 1904-07-14
Alfalfa for Soiling Purposes.

Alfalfa for Soiling Purposes.
Alfalfa Is one Of the best crops for
almost any feeding purpose and Is
especially valuable for feeding cows
that are kept up and given feed cut
green. In the first place 1t is about
as rich In protein as Is bran when
the dry matter Is compared, but of
course in its green state the protein
content will lie decreased in proper.
ton as the water content of the green
plant Is increased. Another important
thing in favor Of alfalfa Is that It
can be cut repeatedly throughout the
summer. This is not the case with
some Of the other soiling crops. We
believe that every dairyman that can
should raise alfalfa and feed 1t green
II he can. We say "if he can" for the
reason that already some of our city
milk buying companies and bottling
companies are objecting to the feeding
OF alfalfa as soiling crop. We have
not learned that any have objected to
1t as a hay crop. though this may
come later. The writer mentioned to
an oflcer Of company engaged In
supplying bottled milk to Chicago that
alfalfa was likely to prove most
valuable plant for feeding green to
cows during the drouth of summer.
The officer replied that his company
would object to the farmers feeding 1t,
as they even objected to the cows
being pastured on red clover for more
than short period at one time. The
belief OF the writer Is that some Of
acting In their demands. There Is
constant tendency among them to oh.
ject to the feeding of any but the high
est priced feeds, such as middlings
and corn meal, out OF which the farm
er cannot make profitable milk. 1t IL
doubtful II alfalfa taints the milk at
all. and the farmer should not surren-
der his right to feed 1t without q most
thorough investigation as to Its real
effect on the flavor of the milk.
condensing sf Milk Increasing.
The condensing factories OF the
United States and even those OF Swift
zerland have come to be operated
largely on the trust plan, and their
controllers have been ablc to regulate
the price OF condensed milk to large
extent. But 1t seems that this power
Is waning, due to the increase in the
number of independent companies. 1t
is reported that the manufacturers OF
condensing factory machinery have
been making large sales this year
There Is good reason for the establish.
ment OF more condenserics. Some of
the independent concerns In Illinois
have made enormous profits during
the last few years. One Of the stock
holders OF an independent company
told the writer that his company had
been making so per cent q year for
some years. II this is so with the in
dependent concerns, what must be the
cases with the concerns that are being
operated on trust basis. There was
a time few years ago when the prod.
uct OF the Swiss condensing factories
competed In the American market
with the product of the American fac
tories, and the product of the Ameri-
can factories competed in Switzerland
with the product Of the Swiss fac.
tories. But an agreement was entered
into by which each withdrew from for.
eign territory and left the other In
possession. We believe 1t Is for the
interest Of the farming communities
to have as many condenseries In oper.
alton as possible. and every effort to
establish them should be encouraged.