The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1875-02-12
Planting Alfalfa.

= -S1-S ~A-@ee+ASsa
The following, from the California
Farmer, gives valuable information con-
corning alfalfa culture:
As we have been familiar with the
character, qualities and results of al
falfa cultivation in California since
1852, when We first introduced it here,
and urged its cultivation, we think we
can give reliable instructions.
Alfalfa, or Chill clover, is especially
adapted for a dry, hot climate. No
matter how hot the weather may be,
so long as the soil has been cultivated
deep enough for the roots TO go down
in search of moisture, alfalfa will -four
ish.
There is no better feed for cattle and
sheep thar alfalfa, properly grown and
properly cured, and for pasturage or
for hay.
The best soil for alfalfa is a deep al
luvial soil, a deep rich sandy loan, or
any good soil, even our black soil, af
ter it has been thoroughly subdued,
but no soil is fit for alfalfa that is not
deep and fine, as the roots will go down
twenty feet in search of moisture. Give
to alfalfa free scope for the roots to go
down, and, no matter If the heat is 100
degrees, alfalfa will do we'll, and give
from eight to sixteen or twenty tons to
the acre. This depends on the soil and
manner of sowing.
The time and manner of sowing we
recommend it as follows:
AS we have said, the land for alfalfa
must be deeply and finely plowed, Is,
20, or "a inches, and fine thorough
work, remembering that alfalfa, once
well established stands for many years.
The time of sowing we recommend is
the autumn, and upon the best land as
described we would advise that it be
sown with oats or wheat or barley, and
twenty-five pounds alfalfa to the acre
it should be soWn thick, so that it
grows succUlent and tender--thus grown
it yields mora to the acre, Wits quicker
when cut, makes better and sweettr
hay when sown sparse the stalks are
coarse and hard, will not cure, AID
stock will not eat it. When alfalfa is
thus sown in the fall early with grain
the grain comes up and acts as q pro-
tector TO the young alfalfa in case of
frost, as the grain blades hang over the
alfalfa to shield it both from any frost,
sun or drOuth, and as the season warns
up in January and FEBRUARY, and the
grain grows, the alfalfa grows also, and
this covers the soil among the grain
roots, and IN turn protects the earth
from the sun, and helps the gram by
keeping the surface shielded.
AS soon as the grain is harvested,
the alfalfa will spring onward in its
growth and rapidly push forward, Civ
ing two or three crops the first year.
One other great gain in planting with
grain is this, after the grain is off the
decaYipg stubble is rich food for the
alfalfa the roots of the grain as they
decay become deep cavities which are
quickly filed with the roots of the al
falfa as they go down for moisture !;
thus in planting the alfalfa this fall
early with grain, both species are bene-
flied and q large crop is secured of
each.
When alfalfa pastures are to be used
for feed only, for COWS or sheep, they
should be fenced off into five or ten
acre lots, in order to give each lot full
recuperative power. This can easily
be done by the movable fence, for
stock in rich alfalfa pastures won't
Jump fences or break them.
When alfalfa is raised for hay ii
should be cut when in full blossom,
before seeding. If sown as it should
be, thick, the grass will be tender and
will wilt quickly, and should be quick
~ winrowed, then stacked early, not
dried up. Glover should be cured as
we cure herbs, to retain their fragrance
and goodness I; so with alfalfa, it needs
but little exposure, it will dry enough
in the stack. The curing of alfalfa hay
is one of the most important parts of
the whole thing. All the process of
selection of soil, blowing, planting,
etc., will all be lost, if at last a good
crop of ten or twelve tons per acre is
badly harvested and spoiled.