HARVESTING «9 



ers are agreed that it pays to cut every time the alfalfa 

 blooms, up to the last of September in the North, and 

 possibly a month later in the more southern latitudes. 

 A few have reported that they prefer to make but two 

 cuttings a year, claiming to realize a greater feeding 

 value by so doing; but it seems that the loss in leaves 

 and protein, together with the fact that live stock has less 

 relish for the more mature cuttings, makes frequent cut- 

 ting by far the most profitable. 



To sum up, the points to be emphasized in cutting 

 alfalfa for hay, and its treatment immediately after, are: 



Cut in early bloom. 



Handle as little as possible. 



Prevent its being wet after cutting. 



Cure if possible partly in the swath, in the windrow, in 

 the cock and in the stack or inoz 



Cut as often as it blooms, which will range from twice 

 in New England to nine times a year in southern Okla- 

 homa, southern California, Texas and Louisiana. 



In a region of frequent rains protect with hay-caps. 



HARVESTING FOR SEED 



The first cutting should not be used for seed for three 

 reasons : First, if that cutting is delayed until the seed 

 has ripened, the second and third cuttings will be very 

 light, and in the extreme northern alfalfa territory there 

 may not be even a second. \ stronger reason is that 

 at the time of the first cutting, favorable weather is 

 likely to be much less certain and rains will interfere with 

 the stacking of the seed crop, which, to insure its best 

 value, must be put in the stack or mow without wetting. 



