460 ALFALFA FARMING IN AMERICA. 



5-foot cut has been found to be too short to be satisfactory in 

 cutting two rows at once. 



It is probable that a center-cut mower with one horse attached 

 at each end of the cutter bar will prove better adapted than even 

 the 6-foot side-draft machine. 



In planning to sow alfalfa for seed in cultivated rows the 

 farmer should make his plans from the very beginning with a 

 view to using to the best advantage the available machinery. In 

 adapting the grain drill to secure the proper distance between 

 rows, the mower with which the cutting is to be done must be 

 kept in mind, as well as the cultivators that are to be used in 

 controlling the weeds and keeping up the dust mulch. 



Thrashing may be done either from the field or from the stack. 

 The latter method is probably the better, as curing in the stack 

 seems to improve the quality of the seed. The haste necessary in 

 order to keep the machines busy when thrashing is done from 

 the field results inconsiderable waste. Whichever method is em- 

 ployed in handling the seed crop, it is necessary that a tight- 

 bottomed rack be used or there will be much loss of seed. Such 

 a bottom can be secured by the use of matched flooring or by 

 spreading canvas or a tarpaulin over the bottom of an ordinary 

 open rack. 



Thrashing may be done in any one of three ways the regular 

 alfalfa huller, an ordinary grain separator supplied with a hulling 

 attachment, or a grain separator fitted out with alfalfa sieves 

 may be used. The last has been found to give very satisfactory 

 results. Failure to appreciate the fact that the ordinary thrash- 

 ing machine can be adapted to the thrashing of alfalfa has re- 

 sulted in the loss of the seed crop on many fields in sections where 

 seed production is not often attempted or, if attempted, is suc- 

 cessful only in abnormal years or where it is carried on inci- 

 dentally to other farming industries. In using the ordinary 

 thrasher it is recommended that the concaves be inverted in addi- 

 tion to inserting the special clover or alfalfa sieves. 



Possibilities of Seed Production in Cultivated Rows. Too much 

 must not be expected from the method of growing alfalfa de- 

 scribed in these pages. There are large areas in and around the 

 regions to which this method is adapted where no amount of cul- 

 tivation and isolation of the plants will bring success. On the 

 other hand, there are thousands of acres now lying idle which 

 with intelligent management will yield profitable crops. Maxi- 

 mum or bumper crops must not be expected under the prevailing 

 conditions. 



The results obtained in the experiments thus far conducted with 

 this metnod indicate that it gives especial promise in Utah, in 



