164 ALFALFA. 
It will be observed that the total nitrogen and ether-ex- 
tract decrease regularly as the crop grows and the fiber in- 
creases. The dry matter increases rapidly during the flow- 
ering period. The nitrogen is assimilated most rapidly in 
the early stages of growth and after the blossoms appear 
does not keep pace with the increase of dry matter. During 
this period, the proteids are being built up in the leaves and 
transferred to the’stem. Table LXIX gives the total num- 
ber of grams of nutrients yielded by one square yard at the 
different stages. ; 




TABLE LXIX. 
TIME OF CUTTING SAMPLE 
| June 30| July 7 | July 14 | July 22 | July 29 
z Gms. Gmste |mGnis! Gms. | Gms. 
4 DYoEPEWL IND ereOY EXE) A cos cccosanataosacoocECdocosce 2.05 2.84 5.83 8.60 8.85 
Crude protein (nitrogen X6.25)....| 12.8 17.38 36.4 53.8 55.3 
IS phienme xtra terecescass< see cese cess secre sen. 1.68 2.83 || 4.69 10.36 10.75 
TENTS 2 eek PERE rie Sera Sp ae ee | 7.92 | 16.50 | 48.49] 102.3 | 114.2 
INTEGO en-=free-CxthaG Crscmenscamiveesceee sn 14.20 24.78 60.00 | 123.8 PAS ss 
Dey) MEER HO thao sd asocoaosesooSccocseosoennnesoo 41.00 67.70 161.2 294.5 3834.00 






In general, the results of the work done on the second 
crop corroborate that on the first crop. The crop reaches 
the condition most suitable for cutting at the time when 
one-third of the blossoms have appeared. After this, a 
larger amount of much inferior hay is obtained. These re- 
sults also agree with those obtained by the Kansas Agricul- 
tural Experiment Station. The chemical department of that 
station obtained the following results: 
One=tenth in blooms. ..:.-e-s-5-3: 18.5 per cent protein. 
One-halfiaybloominy eee 17.2 per cent protein. 
a ttialll ol @meses erecta ete 14.4 per cent protein. 
It is stated in the bulletin just referred to that ‘‘The late 
cutting of the first crop seems to injure the plant more than 
at any other time, and we have found it profitable to cut 
alfalfa the first time, as soon as one-tenth in bloom, even 
though the weather was bad and we knew that the crop 
would spoil in curing. The increased yield from succeeding 
cuttings over that cut late much more than makes up for 
