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Kansas State Board of Agriculture. 



crust the soil so that they can not break through. In such cases the 

 ground should be worked, to kill the weeds that have started, and re- 

 seeded at once. 



CULTIVATION. 



The cultivation of rowed alfalfa is very similar to that of any rowed 

 crop. It is important to have the ground free from weeds before seeding, 

 so the alfalfa plants will have time to grow to a size convenient for 

 cultivation before it becomes necessary for this operation. For the first 

 cultivation a harrow-tooth garden cultivator will be found to be a good 

 tool. If this is not at hand a six-shovel cultivator may be used the 

 smaller the shovels the better. Sufficient cultivation should be given to 

 keep down weeds and conserve the moisture. After the crop is once 

 established two or three cultivations for the season should be sufficient. 

 Cultivations early in the season are most important. If the weeds are 

 thoroughly killed at that time they will not give so much trouble later. 



It is well to use a harrow occasionally after the cultivations, running 

 it across the rows, so as to level the soil as much as possible. If this is 

 not done the loose soil will give trouble by getting in the sickle and the 

 hay. 



HARVESTING. 



Harvesting is done with the mowing machine. This does the work 

 fairly well, but when the alfalfa plants are spreading in growth the 

 machine will not get quite all the lower branches. Extension guards 



FIG. 214. A mowing machine with dropper attachment in operation in a field of rowed 

 alfalfa. Extension guards, that extend out farther than the regular guards and pick up the 

 lower parts of the alfalfa plants, are useful in harvesting alfalfa in rows. [Courtesy U. 8. 

 Department of Agriculture.] 



