ber it is so often cut regardless of this late date as it seems such a 

 waste to allow a good rich growth of alfalfa hay to remain unhar- 

 vested. 



Fig. 54. Late Cutting Delays Succeeding Growth. 



Tall alfalfa (on left) shows excellent growth following cutting at right 

 stage. Short alfalfa (on right) shows delayed grc \\tri due to cutting previous 

 crop when passed proper stage. 



Late Fall Cutting Dangerous 



There are occasional seasons where alfalfa may not winterkill, 

 cutting even as late as the last of September; but these are the ex- 

 ceptions rather than the rule. (See figs. 14 and 37.) 



I know of one instance where a field of 40 acres was entirely win- 

 terkilled due to cutting the last of September. Similar cases with 

 smaller fields are only too numerous. It is probably a matter of 

 the alfalfa not attaining sufficient growth prior to the first fall 

 frost to hold the snow and protect the crop. Furthermore, it is un- 

 doubtedly true that alfalfa cut late in the fall, even though it may 

 only partially winterkill, does not grow nearly so vigorously the 

 following spring and is more apt to be run out by blue-grass than 

 would be the case if the third crop were not cut at all. In the 

 northern states it is much wiser to leave the last crop stand if it is 

 not ready to harvest prior to September 10th and be content with 

 two crops. The alfalfa will generally be ready to cut, however, early 

 enough in the fall to avoid all dangers of winterkilling if the first 

 and second crops have been cut at the proper stage. 



When Alfalfa is Affected With Leaf Spot Cut Early 



There is a common disease of alfalfa called leaf spot which we 

 know little about. However, it has some influence on the time and 

 stage of cutting alfalfa. Generally all the lower leaves are most 

 badly affected and become covered with brown spots. They soon 

 turn yellow and drop off. In time the entire plant becomes infected 

 and the field appears yellowish green and sickly. The great loss of 

 leaves results in a lower yield and a poorer quality of hay. This 



67 



