322 THE BOOK OF ALFALFA 



WYOMING 



Asil T. Wilson, Fremont county. — For six years I 

 have been raising alfalfa on first-bench upland, a gravelly 

 loam, with a cement subsoil of a lime nature. Water is 

 found at 40 feet; moist soil is encountered at a depth of 

 12 feet from the surface, and continues until water is 

 reached. A depth of one inch for seeding is best. Sow 

 in early spring. If alfalfa and timothy are sown together, 

 sow 20 pounds of the former to 6 of the latter; if alone, 

 20 pounds of alfalfa. No weeds will trouble; cut either 

 crop for hay ; the first crop for seed. Watering after the 

 last cutting will cause alfalfa to winterkill. Irrigate as 

 early as possible, if dry, and whenever getting dry, also 

 about five days before cutting ; the soil being moist after 

 cutting, the next crop will start up quickly. The larger 

 the quantity of water used the better if it runs off quickly. 

 We obtain water from a stream. After the first year I cut 

 twice, obtaining two tons each cutting. I cut for hay 

 just as it comes into bloom, as it is not so woody 

 and more leaves are saved. The first cutting is prefer- 

 able for seed. When cutting for seed, wait until the curls 

 get well filled and black ; put it into cocks and thresh when 

 dry. Alfalfa hay should be cut one day and raked the 

 next ; then cock, and let it stand two or three days before 

 stacking ; by so doing all the leaves are saved, and it cures 

 in the cock so there is no danger of molding in the stack. 

 My alfalfa in stack costs $1 per ton, from land valued at 

 $5 per acre. Irrigation costs 20 cents per acre. Baling 

 costs $3 per ton, 150 pounds in bale. Seed yields six 

 bushels per acre; threshing costs $1 per bushel. Prices 

 for hay have ranged from $5 to $10 per ton, and $7 per 



