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 four 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. AE ROG ee 
