The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1903-07-04
The Best Time to Cut Alfalfa.

nc DcSt lInC 10 Aut AIIdlld.
When we express results In per-
centage we do not give the actual
amounts produced per acre unless we
also state flie weight Of hay produced.
This II an important factor and one
which we must take Into account.
We usually assume that this IL
thoroughly understood and that 1t ~
accepted ms. IA fact that the crop In
creases in weight from the time Of
budding till it reaches or slightly
passes full bloom and then decreases.
The amount of this increase will
vary with number of conditions,
but the following figures based upon
the results of observation, may serve
to give definite idea of how much
the increase amounts to. If we cut
enough alfalfa in. bud to make 100
pounds of hay, the same alfalfa would
make l26 pounds II allowed to stand
till in half bloom, and 145 pounds If
allowed to stand till In full bloom; If
allowed to stand longer it would de-
crease. If the question were, when
shall we cut alfalfa in order to make
the most hay?' then the answer would
be when it IL in full bloom. The
question as presented to us is, when
is the best time to cut alfalfa?"
This time is evidently that at which
we will have not the largest yield of
hay, nor of the best quality, but the
largest yield Of digestible food ingred-
tents. This answer considers two
factors-composition and digestibil-
ity. Every feeder will mentally add,
'.But there are other things to be
considered" which is true, but 1t is
assumed that the animals will eat
the hay of which we are writing and
will relish 1t.
We have given the ammounts Of
hay which the same quantity Of al
fsafa w6ukl give when In bud, In hnlf
bloom and in full bloom, using the
figures obtained for our Colorado al
falfa. The 100 pounds Of early cut
hay will contain 10 pounds of nlbumi-
noids and 1.5 pounds Of amids; the
1873 pounds of hay, alfalfa cut in half
bloom, will contain 1913 pounds of al
bulninoids and 80 pounds of amids;
the 145 pounds of hay cut in full
bloom will contain 10 pounds Of albu-
minoids and pounds Of amids. Out
of the question, for they are assumed
to have only small value as COM
pared with albuminoids, and reduc-
ing these figures to the basis of II
pound we find the relative values to
be Lis for the early cutting, LOO for
that cut in half bloom and los for
that cut in full bloom. Or stated
otherwise, S8.2 pounds Of alfalfa cut
in bud, or 92.8 pounds in full bloom
are equal in value, using the albumi-
noids as the criterion, to 100 pounds
of alfalfa hay cut in half bloom, SO
that alfalfa hay cut in half bloom is
inferior to that cut in full bloom and
still more inferior to that cut in bud.
In this statement we assume that
til albuminoids are equally digestible
at the three different stages of de-
velopment here specified. If this be
true the largest amount of digestible
proteids would be obtained by cutting
in full bloom, for while the relative
values of the hay cut in bud to that
cut in full bloom is as 100 to lO7, the
yield is about 100 to 145, leaving an
advantage Of 3s pounds of hay on
each l45 pounds of hay cut in full
bloom. These figures refer to the
first cutting.
The results of experiments made in
the artificial digestion Of the proteids
is slightly in favor Of the hay when
the plants are In full bloom, though
the difference is not great.
From the considerations set forth
above, /. e., first, in regard to the
total weight of hay; second, in re-
gard to the actual quantity..of proteids
obtained; and third, in regard to the
the digestibility Of the proteids
which we took rs standard, the period
of full bloom liz indicated rs the best
time to cut alfalfa hay.-W. p.
Headden, State Agricultural College
in Fort Collins Express.
Strehlke Bros. Will Buy Ii Back.