MAKING ALFALFA HAY 383 



disking every spring with the disks set straight so as to cut 

 up the surface, but not to throw out the plants or cut off 

 the crowns, will improve the growth of the crop. Disking 

 should be done with caution where alfalfa does not thrive, 

 for it may cause much more injury than benefit. If it seems 

 desirable to disk the field, experiment with a small portion 

 of it for a season before risking the entire acreage. 



483. Making the Hay. The time to cut alfalfa for hay 

 is when the young sprouts of the second growth begin to 



Fig. 119. Hay caps are useful in obtaining the best quality of hay. 

 They prevent injury from rain and aid in saving a large proportion of the 

 leaves of clover or alfalfa. 



start from the crowns, which is when the plants are just 

 coming into bloom. Cutting should not be delayed beyond 

 this time, for the leaves of the old stems will begin to drop 

 off, and the new growth will be considerably retarded. 

 After the hay is cut, it should be removed from the land as 

 soon as possible in order to give the new growth a chance. 

 The growth of the succeeding crops depends in large measure 

 on the promptness of cutting at the proper time and of 



