TIME OF CUTTING. 
Alfalfa ought to be cut whenever it needs cutting, 
whether in meadow or pasture. It is the life of al- 
falfa to cut it now and then. It disappears and is re- 
placed by other plants in eastern soils when not cut 
occasionally. In the west this is not so true, yet in 
almost any region alfalfa is healthier and better to 
be cut now and then. 
Time to Cut.—One knows that alfalfa needs cut- 
ting when he sees a cessation of growth, an appear- 
ance of bloom, a dropping off of the lower leaves and 
especially when he notes shooting out near the sur- 
face of the ground small new sprouts or buds, as 
though the plant was about to make a new growth. 
As soon as these shoots appear, cut the crop as 
promptly as possible. The earlier it is cut after 
these shoots start the better the hay will be and the 
more nutritious, also the stronger will be the new 
growth. Thus the total amount of forage produced 
by a field of alfalfa is very directly proportioned to 
the promptness with which it is cut after it is ready. 
It has already been pointed out, however, that it 
is dangerous to mow alfalfa too soon. To cut it 
before these basal] shoots have started may weaken 
it and in the case of newly-sown alfalfa may also 
destroy it. 
Bloom not a Test,—One can not safely judge of 
(293) 
