ALFALFA 343 



timothy is an important crop, the practice of growing it 

 in mixture with alfalfa is increasing. This permits, in 

 many places, the cutting of a second crop of hay, which 

 is largely composed of alfalfa. Alfalfa as ordinarily cut 

 is ready two weeks sooner than timothy, but additional 

 maturity makes it better feed for horses. Furthermore, 

 experience has shown that when mixed with timothy, 

 the stems are more slender, and there is no objectionable 

 woodiness. 



407. Alfalfa in rotations. On account of its long life, 

 as well as the value of an established field, alfalfa is not 

 much used in regular rotations. The almost universal 

 custom is to retain a field in alfalfa as long as it continues 

 to produce satisfactory crops. In Colorado, however, 

 alfalfa is used in rotation with potatoes, the alfalfa com- 

 monly being sown with a nurse-crop of oats and usually 

 allowed to stand two seasons. 



In Europe the idea prevails that land should not again 

 be sown to alfalfa until after a period of rest equal to the 

 time the land was in alfalfa, or somewhat less if there is 

 a deep and good subsoil. American experience has not 

 as yet disclosed any need of such practice. It is, how- 

 ever, desirable, after a field of alfalfa has been plowed, 

 to follow it with one intertilled crop and one of small 

 grains, as this permits the land to be cleaned of weeds, 

 and also secures the benefit of the fertilizing value of the 

 alfalfa. 



If alfalfa is again to be sown on the land, the interven- 

 ing crops should be planned to permit alfalfa being sown 

 at the best time. On farms where experience has shown 

 that alfalfa can be successfully grown, it is most economi- 

 cally seeded after a cultivated crop that can be removed 

 in time enough to sow the alfalfa. Among such crops 



