28o THE boos: of alfalfa 



him to believe that the stand is often injured, particularly 

 during the first year, by allowing the crop to reach too 

 great maturity and then cutting when the plants are just 

 beginning to bloom, and leaving a stubble of at least three 

 inches. Mr. Gill did not inoculate the seed or soil at 

 his first seeding, but did follow this practice with recent 

 seedings, and believes it to be a wise precaution, especial- 

 ly on soils that have not been previously heavily manured. 



NEW MEXICO. 



Thomas /. Clark, Grant county. — I have had 15 years* 

 experience with alfalfa on first and second bottom land 

 with gravel soil, dry to within four feet of water, which 

 is reached at a depth of 15 feet. I irrigate from the Gila 

 river, and my alfalfa, which is 14 years old, is as good 

 to-day as at any time since it was sown. The seed is 

 sown as turnip seed is. I plow the land thoroughly, har- 

 row it over smoothly, then sow the seed in March, and 

 harrow lightly once. Then the water is turned on, and 

 the ground will remain moist until the seeds sprout. 

 After the alfalfa is six inches high, I cut it to make it 

 spread and destroy all the large weeds ; and there may be 

 two cuttings of hay that same season. Water will not 

 injure the plant unless it stands on it in low places. Stag- 

 nant water standing on the plant, or mineral water so 

 near the surface that the roots reach it, will kill the plant, 

 but It is not liable to injury from winter frost. After the 

 first season there are three or four crops, the first being 

 usually chosen for seed and not irrigated. For hay it 

 is cut when In full bloom, and, if the sun is shining, 

 should cure 24 hours if in June, or 20 In July or August, 



