318 DRY LAND FARMING 



On some soils it will pay well to harrow the crop, 

 but not usually until the plants reach the height of, say, 

 3 to 5 inches. On other soils this may not be admissible. 

 Where the harrow can be thus used, it aids in cleaning 

 the land, and frequently it may used again, once or twice, 

 at a later period. 



The crop should be clipped when, say, 8 to 10 inches 

 high, by running the mower over it and set so high that it 

 will not cut off the crowns of the plants. Should, the 

 tops of the plants show any indication of lack of mois- 

 ture, by assuming a yellowish tint, the mower should 

 be at once sent into the field. The clipping cuts off 

 weeds that may be present, and it tends to strengthen 

 the alfalfa plants by causing renewed growth in the 

 roots. What is thus mown may usually be left to mulch 

 the land. The plants should then be allowed to make a 

 good growth, so that they may go through the winter in 

 good condition. The top growth will tend to hold snow 

 and to break the force of the wind. It should not be 

 pastured the first season. 



After the plants have reached the age of two years, 

 discing will be found profitable in the .early spring, also 

 carefully stirring the soil with an alfalfa renovator (see 

 p. 154). The discing should be done in the early spring, 

 also the stirring of the soil, as soon as either can be done 

 without harm to the soil. The discing may be severe, 

 but th'e discs should not be set at too much of an angle 

 or they may cut the plants. After the discing the har- 

 row should be run over the ground to smooth it. The 

 renovator stirs the ground deeply and does not cut the 

 plants or split the crowns. Such stirring of the soil 

 helps to kill weeds and insect life, aerates the ground, 

 conserves moisture and makes plant food available. 



Harvesting for hay. For hay, alfalfa should be cut 

 for swine just before any blooms open; for sheep, dairy 

 and beef cows, just after the blooms begin to open, and 



