IN THB DIFFERENT STATES 1 39 



than any previous year. I can give no positive infor- 

 mation as to whether it will endure pasturing here, as 

 I know of no farmers who have used it for that pur- 

 pose. "We have not yet observed that alfalfa has here 

 any insedt enemies, although the last growth in Sep- 

 tember or Offlober is oftentimes checked by a fungus 

 which spots the leaves. This does not seem to injure 

 the growth the next year, hence nothing has yet been 

 done in regard to it. ' ' 



NEW MEXICO 



Prof. Fabian Garcia, of the experiment station of 

 New Mexico, says alfalfa is a success, and the fadtor 

 which seems to determine its greatest success is the 

 soil rather than location; a deep and rich loamy soil 

 seems best. A very fine seed-bed should be prepared. 

 Drill in the last of January or the first of February, 

 fifteen to twenty pounds to the acre. 



' ' We irrigate to promote germination, and then 

 irrigate again before the first cutting. Usually it is 

 cut when about one foot high, to get rid of the weeds. 

 After this cutting is hauled away the field is irrigated 

 again, and sometimes it is irrigated before being cut 

 the second time. The first year th'e alfalfa is cut about 

 twice, and sometimes, when all conditions are very 

 favorable for growth, three times. After the first 

 season the cuttings are made when the alfalfa is about 

 in full bloom. The fourth cutting is left until the 

 weather begins to freeze. On an average, alfalfa 

 yields one ton per acre at a cutting. After the alfalfa 

 is cut it is allowed to lie on the ground till the third 

 day, when it is raked, and this is done in the forenoon. 

 If yet too green to stack or bale, it is left in the wind- 



