ALFALFA 127 



After-Treatment. — The after-treatment of alfalfa is more important 

 than in case of the clovers and grasses. Clipping the alfalfa at the close 

 of its first season has been quite generally recommended, but is a doubtful 

 practice so far as direct benefit to the alfalfa is concerned. If, however, 

 weeds and grasses are abundant, or if the alfalfa was seeded early and is 

 blooming rather freely, clipping in the fall is advised. The clipping should 

 be so timed as to prevent maturing of weed seeds. The alfalfa should be 

 clipped rather high and the clippings left on the field for winter protection. 



Winter killing of alfalfa is most severe during the first winter and in 

 severe climates or on soils subject to heaving. Winter protection by 

 mulching or otherwise is advised. The more hardy varieties of alfalfa will 

 stand a temperature twenty to thirty degrees below zero if the soil is rea- 

 sonably dry. The chief trouble occurs as a result of the plants being heaved 

 out of the soil by repeated freezing and thawing, generally toward the close 

 of the winter. 



Disking and harrowing alfalfa fields have been frequently recom- 

 mended for the purpose of killing weeds and grass, for loosening the soil and 

 for splitting the crowns of the alfalfa plants. The improvement of soil and 

 destruction of weeds is justifiable, but injury to the alfalfa plants should 

 always be avoided. Under favorable conditions considerable injury may 

 not prove serious, but in the eastern part of the country, injury to the 

 crowns of the plants results in decay of the roots and shortens their life. 

 The ordinary disk is, therefore, not recommended. Suitable harrows and 

 the spike-toothed alfalfa disk harrow may be used to good advantage. 

 The spring-toothed harrow with the teeth brought to a sharp point is 

 recommended. There is enough spring in the teeth so that they will pass 

 around the crowns of the alfalfa plants without serious injury, and at the 

 same time will uproot small weeds and grasses. 



Cultivation should take place just after cutting, and is generally not 

 necessary during the first year of the alfalfa. 



Making Alfalfa Hay. — The time of cutting alfalfa should be carefully 

 regulated in order not to injure it. If cut too early the second crop is slow 

 in starting and the exposed crowns of the plants may be injured by hot, dry 

 weather. Neither is it advisable to delay the cutting, for this will result 

 in clipping off the new shoots that produce the new crop. Alfalfa should be 

 cut for hay when the small shoots starting from the crown and which 

 produce the next crop are one-half inch to one and one-half inches in length. 

 At this time about one-tenth of the blossoms will usually be out. In the 

 eastern part of North America leaf spot is quite common and spreads 

 rapidly through the field as the plants approach the hay-making stage. If 

 this trouble is very prevalent the leaves fall rapidly and harvesting should 

 be hastened somewhat to prevent loss. A fair degree of maturity of the 

 alfalfa makes the curing of hay easier than if cut when too succulent. In 

 the western half of the United States there is very little difficulty in this 

 respect. Weather conditions are more favorable and hay of good quality 



