Alfalfa in Kansas. 63 



manure should be scattered evenly, and while pitchforks may be used, a 

 regular manure spreader will do the work much better and more eco- 

 nomically. It is a good idea to harrow the field thoroughly in the follow- 

 ing spring in either case, so that the manure may be more thoroughly and 

 evenly scattered, torn apart and worked into closer contact with the soil, 

 thus bringing about quicker results and reducing to a minimum the 

 dapger of raking it up with hay. 



Most growers prefer to make applications every second year. It was 

 stated by some that top-dressings of manure had best not be made until 

 after the second growing season, although from a number of counties 

 were received reports that light applications of manure are sometimes 

 made to newly sown fields in the fall. Such applications help keep the 

 ground from heaving to the detriment of the young plant. Some typical 

 replies follow: 



Montgomery county: "Satisfactory. It will probably bring greater 

 returns than manure placed on other field crops." 



Mitchell county: "Very favorable. The alfalfa grows more luxuri- 

 antly, especially with plenty of moisture in the soil. Yields heavier." 



Osage county: "Very satisfactory. Would consider one load spread 

 on top equal in value to two or three loads plowed under, for alfalfa." 



Douglas county: "Good results have been obtained, but one should be 

 very careful and not top-dress with manure which is laden with grass 

 and weed seed." 



Coffey county: "The results have been good when properly applied 

 with spreader and when ground was frozen." 



Rice county: "Quite successful, especially well-rotted or fine manure." 



McPherson county: "Don't like to do this during the summer very 

 well, because of making the hay dirty. I prefer the fall or winter." 



Cowley county: "If done at the right time in winter, all right, but if 

 done in the spring or hot weather it burns it out." 



Leavenworth county: "Good when put on light and even after the 

 second year's growth." 



Harvey county: "We use barnyard manure, but do not apply it to 

 young alfalfa." 



Lane county: "Dress lightly during the winter and disk it in early 

 spring. Very beneficial for several seasons." 



Jefferson county: "I spread manure, about six tons per acre, every 

 other year. It works fine." 



TIME TO CUT. 



The proper time to cut alfalfa hay is determined by the observation 

 of one or more of three things, namely: the amount of bloom; the 

 sprouts or shoots of the next crop; and the turning yellow of the under 

 leaves of the standing growth. Of the three methods the "bloom" and 

 "shoot" methods are by far the most popular. By the "bloom" method, 

 growers prefer to cut when the alfalfa is from one-tenth to one-half in 

 bloom; the majority prefer one-tenth although when the hay is for 

 horses one-half or even two-thirds or more in bloom is not too far along. 

 In case of a large acreage it is usually necessary to start cutting in the 

 extreme-early stage of bloom, in order that the alfalfa cut last may 



