go ALFAI,FA 



third cutting of alfalfa made August i stli, and the alfalfa 

 disked for the fourth time August 20th. The last cut- 

 ting of alfalfa was made September 13th. This shows 

 four diskings and four cuttings of alfalfa on upland in 

 a dry year. 



"Another field of alfalfa was disked and cross- 

 disked March 27th. The first cutting of hay was 

 made June 4th, and the second disking June 6th. 

 Through July and the early part of August the alfalfa 

 was cut from day to day and fed green to dairy cows 

 to help out dried-up pastures. August 20th the field 

 was,disked, and October 3d the last cutting of alfalfa 

 made. 



"The alfalfa in both fields made fine late fall 

 growth and went into the winter in good condition. 



" The stand of alfalfa on both fields disked in 1900 

 was good. A harrow with sharp sixteen-inch disks 

 was used, the disks being set at a slight angle, just 

 sufficient to turn the soil over, and the harrow was 

 weighted to make the disks split the alfalfa crowns to 

 a depth or two inches. The disking split the alfalfa 

 crowns, and this made them throw out many new 

 shoots. The disking made an earth-mulch over the 

 field and prevented the evaporation of water, so rapid 

 in a dry time from an alfalfa field just after being 

 cut. The disks were set so that they barely turned 

 the soil over, and, running at a depth of two inches, 

 they turned the roots of the crab-grass and weeds up 

 to the sun, which killed them. These disked fields 

 were clean and free from crab-grass in the fall. 



" We have not disked one-year-old alfalfa. From 

 these experiments we feel safe in recommending disking 

 all alfalfa of two years or more standing. Make the 



