Alfalfa for New York 



1577 



Method of sowing 



Drilling is a good practice, but the land must be harrowed smooth after 

 the drill. If the drill marks are left, a heavy rain within six or eight 

 weeks after sowing may wash enough soil on the young plants to kill 

 them. Broadcasting ahead of a disk drill or a spring-tooth harrow and 

 rolling afterward is very satisfactory. 



CARE OF THE STAND 



If the alfalfa is spring- or summer-sown without a nurse crop, the weeds 

 must not be allowed to get ahead of the seeding. They should be clipped 



COURTESY OF W. A. WHEELER, MITCHELL, S. DAK. 



Fig. 240. — Hogs in alfalfa pasture. Not troubled about the high cost of living 



back with a mower, the cutter bar being set 5 to 6 inches high. It is 

 very important not to clip the young alfalfa close to the ground, below the 

 leaves, during the first four months, as good stands are often killed by 

 so doing. 



Care of the established field 



Whenever alfalfa shows signs of blooming it should be cut. It is then 

 at the stage of growth for the best quality of hay, and if cut promptly will 

 often make four cuttings for the season instead of three. The rule is to 

 cut when it is one tenth in bloom. A better method is to watch the new 

 vshoots that start from the crown. When they are an inch long, cutting 

 should be done at once. 

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