90 ALFALFA FARMING IN AMERICA. 



of cutting alfalfa green and using it to soil horses 

 is responsible for great damage to the fields. At the 

 end of a field where first the scythe began its work 

 on immature alfalfa, it was so weakened that weeds 

 and grasses came in thick and choked it out. ' At the 

 other end of the field would often be good, thrifty 

 alfalfa, because it had not been cut too soon. It is 

 wise to cut as early as one can, and not cut before 

 the appearance of the shoots, because thus a better 

 quality of hay is secured. 



The Next Cutting. — ^Alfalfa cut at the right time 

 makes astonishing recovery. The hay raked up, the 

 field looks brown and bare for a few hours. Then- 

 comes the first tinge of green. In a day it is plainly 

 to be seen. In two days it is green again. In a 

 week no one should set foot upon it, and in fout or 

 five weeks it is ready to cut again. Times vary, of 

 course, but in Ohio if the first crop comes off about - 

 June 1, the next crop will be due about July 1 to 4. 

 The same rule applies to the second cutting. It 

 must not be taken away before the buds appear. 

 The rule of waiting till new shoots appear on the 

 bases of the stems applies to each cutting. As the 

 summer gets older and dryer longer times elapses 

 between the various cuttings. The second cutting 

 will take about 40 to 45 days to mature, and the 

 third cutting about the same time. At no time can 

 one disregard the rule as to cutting when the shoots 

 have appeared. Never cut alfalfa before these shoots 

 come. Never delay cutting many days after they 

 appear. 



