Alfalfa in Kansas. 



61 



Dickinson county: "Disking cuts into the stalk and injures the plant. 

 I believe in loosening the ground to admit air and rain, but not in cutting 

 roots, to get good results." 



Coicley county: "I have done some. It is all right if done at the right 

 time with a spring-tooth cultivator. Do it early in the spring and after 

 each cutting." 



Ellis county: "Disking usually does more harm than good. Shovel 

 tools give the most desirable results." 



Greenwood county: "I don't like the ordinary disk. I use a spike disk 

 and think it is a good thing to open up the land." 



Brown county: "I have found that disking makes hollow roots and the 

 plants die out. I now harrow after each cutting." 



Chautauqua county: "A disk is a poor implement in alfalfa. You can 

 not afford to cut the roots. Any cultivator with sharp, narrow teeth is 

 better." 



Montgomery county: "Never cultivate before two years old. A disk is 

 too risky. Better use an old hoe drill or the same principle on another 

 machine." 



Mitchell county: "We use the spring-tooth harrow or the spring-tooth 

 alfalfa renovator. The full-face disk harrow does little good. The spike- 

 tooth harrow does fair work." 



From a study of the replies received it would appear that an alfalfa 

 field should be at least two years old before cultivation is attempted ; three 

 or four years is better. The cultivation is best done in early spring, after 

 the frost is out of the ground and before growth starts, and, if necessary, 

 after each cutting. The alfalfa cultivator or renovator, the old hoe drill, 



FIG. 52. The regular alfalfa cultivator is a very good implement to use. 

 [Courtesy Moline Plow Co.] 



