22 FORAGE CROPS FOR THE SAND-HILL SECTION OF NEBRASKA. 



with a disk set very nearly straight and weighted, so that while it 

 does not tear up the ground it Avill cut the hay into the soil and leave 

 it standing over the field somewhat like stubble. (Fig. 7.) Splendid 

 results haA^e followed this method of seeding. 



SUBSEQUENT TREATMENT. 



If it should ever seem advisable to make a cutting the first season, 

 care should be taken to set the cutter bar of the mower hisfh. If cut 

 low, the plants are slow to recover from the shock of cutting, and 

 sufTicient growth is not left on the field to protect the roots of the 

 alfalfa through the winter. Present data indicate that clipping is 

 warranted only as a protection against weeds, and that the common 



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Fig. 7. — Field showinji the method used for preventing tlie movement of sand by the 



use of old hay from stack bottoms. 



practice of clipjDing new fields of alfalfa retards rather than strength- 

 ens the root growth. 



"Wlien the stand of alfalfa is weedy it has been found advisable to 

 disk the field each spring, and in some cases, where the moisture sup- 

 ply is adequate, after each cutting. The disk should be followed by 

 a drag harrow^ to level off the soil for the moAver. Even in fields 

 which are not weedy it is best to disk each spring unless the ground 

 is extremely dry, as it loosens up the surface soil and induces a 

 heavier growth. 



Ordinarily it is safe to cut three crops of hay each year, especially 

 if the cutting is done at the proper season, when about one-tenth of 

 the plants are in bloom. If the second crop is allowed to go to seed, 

 the third growth had better be pastured back, since the cutting would 



[Cir. SO] 



