168 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 154. 



mercial culture, a culture which will be furnished by the col- 

 lege, or the incorporation of soil from a successful alfalfa field 

 with the soil of the field to be sown. Inoculation of the seed 

 is usually least expensive and fully as successful as the use of 

 soil, but if the latter method is adopted sow 300 or 400 pounds 

 per acre. It should be spread (in cloudy weather if possible) 

 and at once harrowed into the soil. Cultures are most effec- 

 tive when fresh. They gradually lose vitality on keeping, and 

 in ordering, whether from a commercial house or the college, 

 the date when the culture will be used should be specified. 



8. However luxuriant and abundant the growth following 

 summer sowing, whether in corn or alone, it will not be advis- 

 able in the severe climate of New England to cut or pasture 

 the crop. Even if the growth be a foot to a foot and a half 

 in height it is worth more left in the field, and will not inter- 

 fere with the development of the crop or the harvesting thereof 

 the following season. 



Harvesting Alfalfa. 



Whatever the stage of development alfalfa should be har- 

 vested as soon as the buds or suckers which start near the 

 base of the plant are well developed. This will usually be 

 when the alfalfa is in early bloom. If allowed to stand much 

 beyond the period of early bloom the plants start slowly after 

 being cut, and the total yield of the season will be relatively 

 small. In every case, however, before cutting examine the 

 stem close to the ground to determine whether the basal buds 

 are starting to grow. Whenever the cutting of the' crop is too 

 long delayed the result is a decrease in the total yield of the 

 season. The last cutting should never be so late that the 

 crop will not make growth sufficient for winter protection, and 

 experience leads to the conclusion that in this climate this 

 should be at least some 6 to 8 inches in height. 



After cutting, alfalfa should be allowed to lie, with possibly 

 one turning, until it is wilted. It should then be put into 

 windrows which, if the weather is bad, may need to be turned 

 once, and later into cocks where it should be allowed to remain 

 until cured. Hay caps should be used if possible. Should the 

 time required in curing it exceed about five days the cocks 



