Alfalfa in Kansas. 57 



Brown county: "Cultivate crab grass or foxtail; plow blue grass." 



Russell county: "If there is any surface moisture you can help by 

 disking with a spike disk after cutting the hay." 



Chautauqua county: "The use of a spring-tooth harrow is the best 

 points sharp and well weighted down." 



Finney county: "No crab grass or blue grass here. I irrigate if pos- 

 sible ; then the alfalfa will smother out the foxtail." 



Neosho county: "No experience with blue grass. For crab grass and 

 foxtail let the alfalfa stand until the sprouts of the next crop show on 

 the crown, then cut it about two inches high, and the new crop of alfalfa 

 will in most cases beat the crab grass and foxtail out." 



Douglas county : "Mow before crab grass and foxtail go to seed." 

 Norton county : "Burn off early in spring, before the alfalfa starts." 



Montgomery county : "Burning in early spring is about all that can be 

 done." 



(See pages 210 to 214 and 332 to 338.) 



CULTIVATION. 



There is great difference of opinion in regard to the cultivation of 

 alfalfa. Some growers think it a good practice; others think it is not 

 a good practice. The reports indicate that if properly done, with the 

 right implements, it is often helpful. Here are some reports not favorable 

 to the practice: 



Douglas county: "It does not pay to disk. The disk splits the crown 

 and lets water in, and the plant rots." 



Geary county: "Don't disk or cultivate. It will increase the crop for 

 a few cuttings, but it splits the crown and causes it to rot." 



Lincoln county: "I killed one field of alfalfa by disking, weighting my 

 disk and setting it to tear out too many crowns." 



Neosho county: "I do not believe in disking or cultivating. I believe 

 that such practices result in the final death of the plant, as I find where 

 the crown is cut in two, and dirt gets in, the plant will sooner or later 

 rot and die." 



Republic county: "Never disk or cultivate, as you split the crown and 

 dry rot ruins your field." 



Barton county: "I don't believe in' disking and cultivating, as it thins 

 the alfalfa and damages the crown, thinning the crop of hay." 



Labette county: "I have used the disk and the renovator in the spring 

 and the disk and harrow after the second and third cuttings, and can 

 see but little improvement, except to hold moisture in case of drouth." 



Geary county: "I have disked frequently, always leaving a strip 

 through the center untouched, and have never been able to distinguish 

 any difference." 



Wabaunsee county: "I have disked for many years, and latterly with, 

 a spiked disk, but I have failed to see any improvement on the crop by 

 disking. The frosts during the winter seem to loosen our ground suf- 

 ficiently without disking." 



Chase county: "Results of cultivation have not been noticeable either 

 way. I do not think the results justify it." 



