The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1920-01-23
Give Alfalfa Field
Winter OvercOat

When the ground n frozen. the
snow Is flying and the wind IL whist
ling a merry gale. your alfalfa field
will prize a warm winter overcoat un-
der which IL will pass the cold wealth
er in excellent condition. Nature Is
the tailor that turns out the winter
clothes for the alfalfa field and spe-
cialists of the United States depart
ment of agriculture recommend that
farmers cooperate as far as posi-
BILE with nature in Ieplenishing the
winter wardrobe of this forage crop.
There are two important reasons
why alfalfa should not be cut or
grazed close at the end of the grow
ing season. 1t is essential that IA
sufficient growth be allowed to re-
main on the field to catch and hold
snow and to AFFORD protection to the
plants from severe winter conditions.
II is even more important that the
late growth be not cut or grazed.
since close cutting or grazing makes
II impossible for the plant to store up
the necessary reserve food materials
In its crown and roots. Unless there
Is such reserve upon which to draw.
the vigor of the plant is greatly i'm
paired and it is not able to Withstand
severe winter weather. This is tru,
of old as well as of young plants. ana
In many cases close cutting has be n
as responsible for the mortality of
plants as lack of inherent hardness
on the part of the strain.
A common practice of many alfalfa
raisers Is to cut off crop Of hay
rather late in the fall or else to pas
ture the forage so heavily at this
time that adequate growth will no,
be available for the protection of the
crop during cold weather. The scant
hay crop which the grower gains by
this practice of late clipping In no
respect repays him for the damage
which he usually does to his stand of
alfalfa. Every farmer should allow
his alfalfa fields to grow at random
unmolssted during the fall. as by
this he is proving the essential warm
winter clothes for the crop. Not only
should he refrain from cutting any
hay but he should also be careful not
to Craze the alfalfa too closely. This
applies particularly to new stands.
seeded the preceding summer, as the
fall growing season is the tim when
these new fields establish their root
systems and produce sufficient
growth for their cold-weather pro-
lection. This growth, which ultima
tely dies and lies like a blanket over
the field through the winter. will not
reduce the quality Of the next cutting
of hay. but, on the contrary, will act
as a beneficial mulch.
It Is also essential to protect the
farm live stock against bloat where
they are pastured even lightly durinA
the fall season on the alfalfa fiel1s
This is best done by never turning
the live stock on the alfalfa fields
at a time when the animals are 8,
hungry that they gorge themselves
with this succulent green feed. Care
must be exercised particularly. not
to Craze the alfalfa when It 10 wet.
either from recent rains or from dew
as the green crop In this condition Is
a prolofic cause of bloat.
Another reason why late fall cut
tings of new alfalfa fields are unde-
sirable comes from the fact that not
only are the hay yields II
but they are also inferior
in quality. being washy and without
the bone building and growing SUBJ
stances which are the valuable ele-
ments in we'll matured full grown al.
IA ia