Show OLD ADVICE STILL GOOD the best forage plants are alfalfa and vetch alfalfa may be placed in the front rank of such plants for once sown it lasts 10 years fattens lean cattle and is good for the sick thus in substance did the leading agriculturist of his day advise his fellow farmers the quotation is from the writings of lucius columella author of the most complete ancient treatise on agriculture who lived in the first century of our era about 1900 ears ago similar advice is contained in a bulletin of the department of agriculture it is declared that an abundance of home grown legume hay is the basis for an economical ration for dairy cows such hay is not only palatable but furnishes more milk making nutriment at less cost than other feeds although the superiority of legumes has been taught by experts from Colu mellas time to the present about 40 per cent of the hay grown in the united states is legume hay and in the dairying states where feeding it would be the most advantageous the percentage is even less both for nutriment and soil building legume hay should have a prominent place in every farmers program Colu mellas advice is as good today as it was 19 centuries ago |