1916.] 



WHY GROW ALFALFA? 



77 



the leaves before they wilt. That enables you to get hay with 

 dry stems and v/ith leaves that do not shatter off so seriously. 



If you want alfalfa for horses, wait until the stems are get- 

 ting sornev/hat woody, that is use the last of the spring cuttings 

 for the horses. We cut when little shoots are just high enough 

 to be missed by the mower, not the first and exceptionally tall 

 ones, but the majority. There is much less danger, in leaving 

 your alfalfa too long than in cutting it too early. But the last cut 

 is the best for horses. There are farmers here in your own Con- 

 necticut valley that feed their horses nothing but alfalfa hay. 



ALFALFA HAY SCORE CARD. 

 Class ....Exhibit No. 



Points 



Color: Bright green preferred, 

 if sweated sample, brown 

 not objectionable . . . 



Smell: Fresh, sweet, appetiz- 

 ing, free from mustiness . 



Firmness of stem 



Softness of stem: Plant not 

 hard or brittle .... 



• Cleanness: Freedom from dust, 

 molds, objectionable weeds, 

 etc 



Purity: Proportion of alfalfa 

 to grasses, etc 



Leaves: Percentage and con- 

 dition of leaves .... 



Weight and general make-up 

 of sample 



Total 



Perfect i Scorer's Corrected 



16 



20 

 8 



8 



18 



8 



14 



8 



100 



Remarks 



J^ame of Scorer 



