--------------------------------------------------+--------+---------- Date of harvest and yield of hay at each cutting | Total |Calculated ----------------+----------------+----------------+ yield | yield First | Second | Third | of plat| per acre -------+--------+-------+--------+-------+--------+--------+---------- |_Pounds_| |_Pounds_| .... |_Pounds_|_Pounds_| _Tons_ June 26| 264 |Aug. 12| 50¹⁄₂| .... | .... | 314¹⁄₂| 3.145 June 26| 177 |Aug. 12| 101 | .... | .... | 278 | 2.780 June 26| 261 |Aug. 12| 68¹⁄₂| .... | .... | 329¹⁄₂| 3.205 June 26| 204 |Aug. 12| 108¹⁄₂| .... | .... | 312¹⁄₂| 3.125 June 26| 191 |Aug. 12| 85¹⁄₂| .... | .... | 276¹⁄₂| 2.765 June 26| 175 |Aug. 12| 74 | .... | .... | 249 | 2.490 June 26| 93 |Aug. 12| 62 | .... | .... | 155 | 1.550 June 26| 99 |Aug. 12| 44 | .... | .... | 143 | 1.430 June 26| 224 |Aug. 12| 140 | .... | .... | 364 | 3.640 June 18| 176¹⁄₂|Aug. 10| 177¹⁄₄|Oct. 16| 120¹⁄₂| 474¹⁄₄| 6.243 June 18| 170¹⁄₂|Aug. 10| 136¹⁄₂|Oct. 16| 73³⁄₄| 380³⁄₄| 5.017 June 18| 147 |Aug. 10| 141 |Oct. 16| 61 | 349 | 4.598 June 18| 105 |Aug. 10| 112¹⁄₄|Oct. 16| 46 | 263¹⁄₄| 3.468 June 18| 112¹⁄₂|Aug. 10| 106 |Oct. 16| 35 | 253¹⁄₂| 3.340 -------+--------+-------+--------+-------+--------+--------+---------- “It will be observed that the maximum crop was produced by applying plenty of water throughout the growing season. However, it is also to be noted that a much less quantity of water, when applied at intervals of three or four weeks, produced a fair crop. Fifteen and 17 inches of water applied in this way produced more than half as much as 61 inches applied at frequent intervals. Furthermore, three irrigations of 15 to 17 inches produced about the same results as the same amount applied at four irrigations. In applying irrigation water to fields it is necessary to saturate the soil to a reasonable depth. All the water that drains off beyond the amount required for use is lost to the crop. It is not necessary to apply water again until the crop has removed a large part of the available supply.” [Illustration: Gathering Alfalfa Hay in Windrows with a Side-delivery Horserake] [Illustration: Cutting a Fine Field of Alfalfa] _CHAPTER VII._ Harvesting CALLS FOR INTELLIGENCE AND PAINSTAKING