EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 593 



plication may do more harm than good. If sufficient mamire is available 

 such treatment of the entire field is advisable. Well-rotted or composted 

 manure is best since not so likely to introduce grass or weed seeds. 

 Seedings made in late June or during July need no other attention than 

 the light top dressing of areas likely to winter-kill. 



During the second season the first cutting for hay will be available 



during late May or early June. It is advisable to cut when small shoots 



begin to appear at the base of the stems. At this time alfalfa is usually 



from one-tenth to one-fifth in bloom. One of tlie most successful waj's 



k^of curing alfalfa is to cut during the morning and allow to lie on the 



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a.>.i»' 



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Alfalfa hay cures best iu small cocks. Even under favorable conditions, good hay may 

 be made by opening and recocking after rains, ilay caps nwke curing even more dependable. 

 In exceptionally fine weather, successful curing may be accomplished in windrows. The use 

 of hay loading and stacking machinery is becoming general on large alfalfa farms. 



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ground until wilted in the swath. It should then be raked into windrows 

 by the use of the side-delivery or sweep-rake. Usually it is ready to rake 

 late in the morning following. On very hot, dry days when curing is 

 rapid it may be raked up the afternoon or evening of the day on which it 

 is cut. Under favorable conditions alfalfa may be cured in windrows, 

 but it is safest to throw into cocks immediately so that the curing may 

 take place under more certain conditions. Fairly green alfalfa, wilted 

 sufficiently to allow raking, which is cocked immediately, usually cures 

 into excellent hay even under adverse conditions. After a rain it takes 

 but an hour or so to open the cocks of an acre or more and to throw them 

 together after drying. Alfalfa should never be allowed to dry in tin 

 swath to the extent that the leaves fall off easily. The leaves furnish 

 the most valuable part of the hay, and pound for pound are almost equal 

 in feeding value to bran. By allowing to wilt in the swath and raking 

 into windrows or throwing into cocks the leaves continue to transpin; 

 moisture and dry the stems. Though alfalfa may be handled with 

 less loss by using the fork in all operations of curing and stacking, it 

 is nevertheless usually more practical and economical on large alfalfa 



