CULTIVATION 69 



alfalfa, but even tinder these conditions one will have a 

 much better stand than is possible by repeated mowings. 

 This is not mere theory, but has been proven correct by 

 frequent experience and close observation of the other 

 method during the same seasons/' Something similar 

 may be said of Witch-grass (Panicum capillare), which, 

 however, is less obnoxious than the Crab-grass, because of 

 not having the habit of rooting at the joints. 



It is sometimes the case that a field of alfalfa is left 

 infested in the fall with such a growth of grass and weeds 

 as to make burning in the spring seem the most feasible 

 means of getting rid of them, and fire is resorted to. Prof 

 A. M. Ten Eyck says he has seen this done a number of 

 times without injury to the alfalfa crowns. He, however, 

 recommends disking after burning, to loosen the exposed 

 soil and leave the surface generally in a better condition. 

 Sowing additional seed on the ground before such disk- 

 ing may do much to improve and thicken the stand. 



The editor of the Nebraska Farmer has been collecting 

 information on alfalfa culture from every section of the 

 United States for the past ten years, and as a result of 

 this work unhesitatingly advances the opinion that "nine- 

 tenths of the failures with alfalfa have been due to fail- 

 ure or neglect to cut it as should have been done when 

 young. This is the law of alfalfa culture; it must be cut 

 down. And the man who has not the courage, morally 

 and physically, to use a mowing machine persistently had 

 best pass by alfalfa culture. It takes moral courage to 

 cut baby alfalfa; but it must be cut down to save it" 



