The Dolores star. [volume] (Dolores, Montezuma County, Colo.) 1901-current, 1911-06-23

- 49, ~ - Ws -
way again.
Psttisg Up The AIealda.
A mistake 10 usually made In allow.
Ing alfalfa to stand too lopg before cut
ting. From the time the alfalfa begins
to bloom, II decreases 10 protein, which
10 the valuable part Of the plant, snd
increases la wood nber, which 10 an
IndIgestibls aud undesirable ingredient.
The usual rule has been TO cut alfalfa
when u ID about oUe-tenth In bloom.
A better rule 10 10 cut when the new
shoots Of alfalfa are just starting from
the crown and before they grow high
enough to be touched BY the mower.
n the alfalfa Il cut in this way and
just ct the right time II comes on
promptly aud covers the field quickly,
while n the new shoots from the bot
tom are cut OF BY the mower, It will
die down and the alfalfa will often not
start until an irrigation or . rain
stimulates . new growth aud bring
II up.
Il should never he cut when there
b any foreign moisture such ~ dew or
rain on the plant. For this reason
many times the mower should not be
started before nine or ten o'clock In
the morning. Formerly we supposed
the growing Of corn and alfalfa did not
70 well together ~ both required work
ct the same time. II now seems 10 be
an advantage to raiss corn and alfalfa
together and cultivate the corn In the
morning. until the alfalfa h ready TO
work. Ifthe alfalfa b cut when loaded
with dew - som - the sun strikes the
deld it bleaches and becomes Of ,
brown colos, which b unaalable and l.
also damaged BY the los of protein.
Alfalfa should b. naked = soon = Il b
about wiltsd o. just thoroughly begins
TO Wilt This may be two hours after
It b cut In dry times and late cutting,
or u very wet and rainy, may Be very
much longer.
Under favorable conditions when
raked promptly and allowed to come
In . large windrow, or better In small
shocks, the leaves will stick to the
stems aud the green color Of the plant
will Be preserved. To cure alfalfa BY
spreading II In the hot sun willis ths
leaves, making II impossible for them
10 draw the sap from the stem which
still remains green and full Of sap. The
leaves are burned instead Of being
slowly aud properly cured. II should
be cured In the shade and this can bes,
be done In the Window or In small
shocks. The shocks may be left In the
field two or three days u necessary and
the best grade Of hay will be secured.
Il pays 10 preserve alfalfa la sheds OF
under canvas covers instead OF stack
Ing II In the open. II 10 . very pool
plant to turn water aud is greatly
damaged In the stack.
When alfalfa 10 put up full Of the sal
Of the plant and too green for prop~I
stacking. II will heat In the stack and
result In brown color. II this stack b
large the part Of the hay that 10 KEPT
from the cir will become what should
b. called silo-cur~d aud 10 often called
tohacco.currd which Il very valusbl.
iced. The carbohy drates of the hay
are burned up TO certain extent and
the hay does not weigh 20 much q
when properly cured but u 10 greatly
Increased In protein, sometimes testins
- high - seventeen per cent while th,
ordinary hay 10 usually fourteen or III
teen per cent. II 10 true, however
that part Of the stack will he damages
aud nodded. DIR. J. r. Axtell, In Den
yer Field and Farm.
A child uhOuld b. made To fppl thn