Alfalfa, The Enchanted Heeb 715 



TIME AND manner OF HARVESTING 



Alfalfa should be mown when new shoots at the root-crowns 

 are fairly starting'. Harvested thus early, a higher feeding value 

 is obtained, and by promptly taking off the crop as soon as ready 

 there is no check to the subsequent growth. If left uncut until in 

 full bloom, the oncoming shoots are in danger of being mowed 

 off, thereby arresting their progress and delaying maturity, which 

 may mean one less cutting in the season. Also, there is greater 

 loss of leaves when the plants are left too long uncut. Cut quite 

 early in its blossoming stage, the hay cures with more of the much- 

 coveted pea-green color than if harvested later, but some chemical 

 analyses appear to find in the plant that is allowed more time for 

 development upwards of one per cent more protein and a slight 

 increase of fat. Whether this greater percentage in the more 

 mature plant is equally well utilized in digestion is undetermined. 



It is always important to rake before the leaves become dry 

 and crmnbly. It is through the leaves that the sap is evaporated 

 in curing; if too quickly dried by a scorching sun, this natural 

 evaporation is so interfered with that a poor grade of hay will 

 result. Forking up the windrows into rather high, narrow cocks, 

 possibly the same day the hay is cut, is found excellent. Cocked 

 like this, moderate rain the following night might do it little 

 harm, as the partly cured hay cocked will shed water quite well. 

 With good weather the next day the cocks can be opened out 

 after the dew is off, perhaps turned over, and in the afternoon 

 may be fit for stacking. In favorable weather it can, of course, 

 be left in the cock longer, but as a general thing it is wise to hurry 

 the hay into storage. Once dried and then wet, it is damaged 

 much more than if rained on while yet green. By washing or 

 leaching it loses much sugar, dextrin, and other soluble matter, 

 and also develops fungi. The difficulties of saving alfalfa hay 

 cut in times of humid weather are much the same as with red 

 clover, and but little, if any, greater. 



Wetting at any time after the hay is partly cured delays the 

 final curing, causes discoloration and mold, lessens the aroma 

 somewhat, and greatly lowers the selling value, although 

 apparently not decreasing the actual feeding value to anything 

 like the same extent. On the other hand, too much hot sunshine 



