THIRTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART XII 



695 



HANDLING THE CROP 



TIME OF CUTTING 



Alfalfa should be cut for hay early in the blooming period (when it 

 is from one-tenth to one-fourth in bloom). When cut at this time the 

 following growth comes on more quickly than when cutting is delayed. 

 Moreover, hay of better quality is secured as fewer of the leaves are lost 

 in curing. 



When the plant approaches maturity new shoots are thrown out 

 from the crown. As the growth in these shoots is very much more rapid 

 than in the older parts of the plant, the annual yield of hay is reduced 

 by any delay in cutting. Also if cutting is delayed until these new shoots 

 have made such a growth that they will be cut off, the growth of the 

 next crop will be seriously checked. 



In Iowa the first cutting will be ready for the mower early in June. 

 The average date of this cutting at the Iowa Agricultural Experiment 

 Station has been June 15. The earliest cutting was in 1911, June 5, and 

 the latest in 1907, June 25. 



The date of the first cutting may sometimes be deferred somewhat by 

 pasturing early in the spring. A number of correspondents state that this 

 practice has given them better weather for curing hay and has not in- 

 jured the field or noticeably decreased the yield. 



CUEING THE HAY 



One common objection to the alfalfa crop is the difficulty of curing the 

 hay, especially the first cutting, which usually comes near the middle of 



Courtesy International Harvester Company. 

 Fig-. 28. — The side delivery rake is considered the most important im- 

 plement in the economical making of alfalfa hay of good quality on a 

 large scale. 



