15 



On the Blackstock plots, the second or aftermath harvest of hay under 

 the two-cut system produced 38, 9 percent of the total production, or 1. 05 

 tons per acre, whereas in South Park, the comparative figures were 22. 3 

 percent and 0. 36 ton per acre. 



Under the two-cut system near Hayden, Colo, , average production per 

 acre for 1955-56 was 3. 56 tons* Of this amount, 48 percent, or 1. 71 tons, 

 was obtained from the second cutting. During the trial period, the frost- 

 free season averaged 85 days. The frost-free period and the production 

 indicated for Hayden, Colo. , are not typical of the mountain meadow areas 

 of the State. This experimental area is located at the lower limits of the 

 meadow area. Consequently, its average summer temperature and growing 

 season are considerably above the average in other areas of this kind. 



The relationship between growing season, total production, and per- 

 centage of total production from the second cutting is summarized in table 

 4. The two-cut system of harvesting does not show favorable results at 

 elevations above 7, 000 feet if volume of hay only is considered. At the 

 South Park location, the two-cut system reduced production on the average 

 by 0. 47 ton per acre. At the Blackstock location, the increase was only 

 0, 13 ton per acre. This increase involved harvesting each acre twice, and 

 the added production did not pay for the cost of the second cutting. 



Results of the various experiments and observations of experienced 

 ranchers showing the change in production from the no-treatment, single- 

 cut harvest method to the two-cut method with fertilizer added is summarized 

 below: 6/ 



Item 



Fertilizer treatment 



Change in produc- 

 tion tons-- 



Change in protein 

 content percent^- 



0. 13 



4,9 



0, 35 



4. 3 



0. 50 



3. 9 



0, 70 



3. 2 



1. 10 



3.0 



1. 20 



2.9 



6/ For fertility treatments used, see footnote 1, table 3, 



