Show proper care of alfalfa stand Is richest hay when cut early and produces more gain in stock by 1 E extension crops crop kandas state agrical agricultural tural college after a stand of alfalfa Is obtained the length of time it will live depends on how it Is handled frequent early cuttings before the bloom stage will so weaken alfalfa that weeds and grass will come into the stand in one or two epars y ears at manhattan on a two year old stand that was cut on an average of five times a year with an average ot of 31 days between cuttings weeds and grass came in after one year tills this was cut in 1 the bud stage A stand that was cut in the tenth bloom stage kept the grass and weeds out for tour four years when cut in the full bloom stage wems weds and grass did not bother over a period of eight years where it Is desired to maintain a strong stand of alfalfa it seems seams advisable to cut alfalfa between the tenth and the full bloom stage where the highest quality of hay la Is desired the earlier cuttings way may be practiced at the expense of maintaining the stand early cit alfalfa Is the richest hay flay and produces more gain when fed to live stock than does late cut hay an occasional loual early cutting probably will not injure the vigor of an alfaba alfafa stand if for any reason it Is desirable to cut one crop early the following crops should be allowed to approach full bloom another common abuse to an alfalfa stand Is to cu CUE late la in the fall sometimes after the third or fourth cutting a six or eight inch growth la Is formed such a growth appears to stand still as cold weather approaches it if short of hay the grower may be tempted to cut tills this crop but if he be does he Is likely to weaken his bis next nest years stand there Is experimental evidence to show that as winter approaches alfalfa plants attempt to build up reserve food in their roots for winter protection such an aftermath will offer consider considerable abla winter protection to the alfalfa plants |