ALFALFA 



induces dormancy in most varieties. This late production 

 of tender shoots is probably the principal reason why these 

 varieties succumb so easily to winter cold. 



Alfalfa sometimes dies in very dry winters in Colorado 

 and other western states apparently from lack of sufficient 

 soil moisture. To remedy this, late fall irrigating would 

 be necessary, though this involves an increased danger of 

 injury by winter cold. 



Young alfalfa is most frequently injured or destroyed 

 by the heaving of the soil caused by alternate freezing and 

 thawing. This results in the plants being raised out of 

 the ground so that the young tap root may be exposed 

 to a length of 2 to 5 inches. It is partly on this account 

 that fall sowings should be early, as the larger the root 

 development the less apt are the plants to be heaved. 

 Heaving is especially likely to occur when the soil contains 

 much moisture, and for this reason is far more common in 

 clayey than in sandy soils. 



Any conditions that do not permit the seedlings to 

 make a good healthy growth before the beginning of 

 winter, will tend to increase winter-killing. A top 

 growth of 4 to 6 inches is considered good, but even 

 more is desirable. 



397. Time to cut for hay. The important factors that 

 determine the best time to cut alfalfa for hay are the effect 

 on the succeeding cutting, and the relation of stage of 

 maturity to feeding value. Both of these considerations 

 are necessarily affected by the probability of good haying 

 weather, as neither a somewhat superior quality or a 

 lessened succeeding cutting would compensate for a loss 

 or serious injury to the crop at hand. 



The general practice in America is to cut for hay shortly 

 after the first blossoms appear. After this time the stems 



