68 Kansas State Board of Agriculture. 



moisture of the snows is retained for the use of the plants. Late, close 

 pasturing is subject to conditions alike to those of late, close mowing. 

 The date of the last cutting or the time to remove animals from pasture 

 varies greatly with the season, and one may, therefore, easily make a 

 mistake. One grower states that when he finds that he has made too 

 late and close a mowing it is his invariable custom to cover the field with 

 coarse manure. 



FIG. 58. How late cutting killed alfalfa. That to the left of the picture was 

 cut five times in a season, and that to the right four times. [Courtesy Breeder' ' 

 Gazette.] 



RAIN AT CUTTING TIME. 



"What do you do in case of rain when alfalfa is at the right stage to 

 cut?" was asked of the growers. Of course every one "does the best he 

 can." The probability of more rain in the immediate future may vary 

 with different sections, and thus have its effect on the grower's actions 

 under such circumstances. Also, the acreage to be cut will have its in- 

 fluence. In the western third of the state, where the probabilities of 

 clearing weather in the immediate future are better, the majority of the 

 growers prefer to wait until it is through raining; in the central and 

 eastern thirds of the state, where the bulk of the alfalfa is grown, most 

 growers prefer to cut and "take their chances" of getting the hay up 

 between showers. Rain on alfalfa while it is yet green and has not started 

 to cure seems to do little injury. It is the rain that falls on alfalfa which 

 is partially cured that does the harm. One thing that must be constantly 

 borne in mind is that the shoots of the next crop should not be cut off, 

 and in case of waiting for it to stop raining one should not wait too 

 long, especially with a large acreage, else these shoots will grow too 

 high. The following are some of the replies received: 



Cheyenne county: "Wait till favorable weather." 



