32 EXPERLMEXT STATION. [Jan. 



No preventive treatment is known, Imt the dinease can be 

 checked and a healthy lirowth re-eslahlishccl by the .simple i)roc- 

 ess of cntting. This shonhl lie the rnle whenever alfalfa, yonng 

 di' (lid, begins to show leaf-spot al)unilaiitly. and when the 1i-(iul)le 

 is rapidly spreading towards the n])i)er leaves it is best to cnt 

 at once. If the field is newly sown, and the ero]i only a few 

 indues high, the cntting shonld not be too close to the gronnd. 

 ^Vhat is cnt may be allowed to lie where it fa'ls. Shonld the 

 growth which follows in tnrn become infected, the tronble shonld 

 be met in the same way, that is, the alfalfa shonld be recut. 



In the case of an established field of alfalfa, if leaf-spot has 

 become abnndant the crop had best be cnt and fed, or nuide into 

 hay at once, even althongh the alfalfa may not have come into 

 bloom. 



nAKVESTi:N"G At.FALFA. 



Alfalfa shonld nsmdly be cnt whil(» in early bb^om. If the 

 stems close to the root be examined at this time it will be 

 fonnd that they carry bnds which are beginning to develop. 

 This indicates that it is ready to make a second crop. If al- 

 lowed to stand mnch beyond the period of early bloom the ])lants 

 start much less promptly after being cnt, and the total yield 

 of the season will be relatively small. 



The last cntting in any season shonld not be too late. It 

 is desirable that there shonld be a considerable growth re- 

 maining on the field for winter protection. 



Alfalfa may sometimes, with advantage, be fed green ; it 

 has been snccessfnlly ensiled, bnt, as is the ease with other 

 legumes, the resnlting silage is strong in flavor and not wholly 

 satisfactory. It is preferable in most cases to make the crop 

 into hay. 



After cntting, alfalfa shonld be allowed to lie, with ]~>ossibly 

 one tnrning, nntil it is wilted. It shonld then 1)0 ]»nt into 

 windrows and then into cocks, where it shonld b(^ allowt^d to 

 remain nntil cnred. Hay caps are very desirable; indeed, 

 almost a necessity for entirely satisfactory results. The length 

 of time which alfalfa mnst remain in the cock will vary greatly 

 with the weather. If this is showerv or raiiiv it of conrse cnres 



