472 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



This inoculation may be effected by means of soil from an old alfalfa field 

 where the bacteria are known to exist, or by treating the seed, shortly before 

 sowing, with a pure culture of the alfalfa bacteria. If alfalfa soil is used, at 

 least one hundred pounds per acre should be applied. Larger quantities 

 will give quicker results. It may be sown by hand while the seed bed is 

 being prepared, or at the time of seeding. On soils not rich in nitrogen a 

 dressing of farmyard manure will give excellent results in giving the alfalfa 

 a vigorous start until the bacteria become established. 



TREATMENT OF THE GROWING CROP. 



If the alfalfa has been sown alone the field should be clipped with a 

 mower as soon as the plants are about six inches high. This clipping is 

 necessary, not only to check weed growth, but to strengthen the young 

 alfalfa plants. The clipping causes the plants to branch out and grow with 

 renewed vigor. This treatment should be repeated several times during the 

 summer. Every clipping will strengthen the growth and it should in no 

 case be neglected, because neglect may mean failure. 



Where a nurse crop is used this should be made into hay at the proper 

 stage and the clipping continued at intervals as in the case where no nurse 

 crop is used. The clippings should generally be left on the ground. 



After the first season, the alfalfa, unless it is used as a pasture, should 

 be cut for hay every time about one-tenth of the heads are in bloom. After 

 each cutting, if the ground is dry, it will usually be well to go over the field 

 with a disc harrow. This is practiced by some of the best growers with 

 excellent results. The discing splits the crowns and strengthens the growth. 

 The disc must be set at a small angle so as not to cut off or tear out the 

 plants. By some this discing is done in two directions, crossing each other 

 at right angles. 



MAKING ALFALFA HAY. 



To secure the largest amount of digestible nutrient per acre, alfalfa for 

 hay should be cut when one-tenth, or at the most, one-fifth, of the blossoms 

 have opened. Where much is to be cut it is well to begin early, because, as 

 it gets older, alfalfa deteriorates very rapidly in feeding value. Many 

 analyses and feeding experiments have been made by the experiment sta- 

 tions and all show that to get the best results alfalfa must be cut at a very 

 much earlier stage of development than red clover. To begin cutting when 

 one-tenth of the heads are in bloom is a good rule to follow. Late cutting 

 not only means a poor quality of hay but is also detrimental to the develop- 

 ment of the next cutting, so that early cutting should be practiced regardless 

 of the weather. 



During the curing process alfalfa must be carefully handled, because the 

 leaves soon dry and are then easily broken off. The leaves are more valu- 

 able, pound for pound, than good wheat bran, and rough handling when 

 dry may very much lessen the value of the hay. It should never be handled 

 when perfectly dry. As a rule it is wise to use a tedder a few hours after 

 mowing, or as soon as it is well wilted on the surface, and to rake it into 

 loose windrows as soon as the rake will handle it. If the weather is good 



