ALFALFA 157 



pletely from unprotected lands, that during almost 

 any winter a large proportion of the area will be 

 quite bare. The melting of the snow thus held is 

 also of much value to the crop in the moisture 

 which it brings to it, especially in areas where the 

 rainfall is less than normal. Second, the plants are 

 thus protected from the sweep of the cold winds 

 which blow so much of the season in the unprotected 

 prairie, and which are frequently fatal to various 

 winter crops. Third, they are also protected from 

 the intensity of the frost, which may in some in- 

 stances kill young alfalfa plants in areas northward. 



In the Northern States east of Minnesota, the 

 New England States, and the provinces of Canada 

 east of Lake Huron, the considerable covering on 

 the ground is not so important, relati^'ely, to protect 

 the plants against the coming winter, but it is also 

 of considerable importance, as sometimes the early 

 snows melt so completely that the fields are left bare 

 in midwinter. The warm temperatures which melt 

 the snow may be followed by a cold wave, which 

 may be greatly injurious to the plants. There may 

 be instances, as where the snow usually falls very 

 deeply, in which the covering left would prove ex- 

 cessive, and so tend to smother the plants; hence, 

 sometimes it may be necessary to guard against too 

 much covering. 



If the plants should lack age or vigor on entering 

 the first winter, a top-dressing of farmyard manure 

 will render great service in protecting them. This, 

 however, is only practicable with comparatively 

 limited areas. It is sometimes practiced in the 



