262 THE BOOK OF ALFALFA 



inches deep, in August or September ; to roll or level with 

 a heavy float about April 15, then harrow, and broadcast 

 25 pounds (or drill 20 pounds) of seed to the acre. I 

 broadcast all of mine, and harrow and roll or level. The 

 best time for sowing here is April 14 to 30, as it almost 

 invariably rains here about April 20, and frosts have 

 never hurt my crop, nor does it winterkill. Mow first 

 when the weeds are six to nine inches high, and, if worth 

 hauling, stack; if not, let lie; generally mow again about 

 July 4 to 20, and stack ; there may be one- fourth to one- 

 half ton of hay per acre. The second season we cut 

 three times, unless we ripen seed, and obtain from one- 

 fourth to one ton each cutting; after this it grows about 

 a foot high by October. For hay, mow as soon as 

 about half full of flowers, rake the same morning, 

 and haul in one or two days, as the leaves fall if 

 dry. It does not heat nor mold here if the sap is half 

 out and the straw long; I use the "Acme" hay har- 

 vester, making stacks with rounded ends, nine steps 

 long by five wide, and top out with straw or hay, taking 

 care to keep the middle well filled. The total cost of hay 

 in stack is about $1.50 per ton, the land being valued at 

 $15 per acre, or $60 with a good stand of alfalfa. The 

 hay has sold for $4 to $6 per ton during the past four 

 years. The best crop for seed depends on the weather; 

 sometimes the first flowers set best, and again the later 

 ones do better; on my bottom land the plant grows too 

 large for seed, unless in a dry time. If seed is ripe, cut 

 only while damp or in the early morning, rake into rows 

 immediately or early the next morning, haul with a 

 "Monarch" rake, and use a stacker. Last year and year 



