Delta chief., 1884-03-12

Alfalfa.

As to the preparation of the soil, almost
anything appears to be the rule. ! know of
some to be sown this year to be sown on the
native sod and to be simply narrowed in
among the grass roots. ] do not regard it as
at all necessary to prepare the soil one
would for onions. When ready for grain or
other grass it will do for alfalfa. | intend to
sow some this season where | had corn last,
with no further preparation than / can give
with the cultivator and harrow. ] had rather
take my chances on the catch" than on the
alterations of the surface levels which the
plow would probably make. Fifteen pounds
of seed to the acre win do, but 1 prefer TO
use about twenty-five, and make sure the
ground is well covered. If there are TOO
many plants the weaker ones will be choked
out. Bruadcasting, with light narrowing,
appears To be best, the drill being apt 10 COW
er too deep. Here il can Toe sown AT any time
when there is moisture enough TO germinate
the seed, preferable early in the spring, say
April Is. But il can be sowa too early, for
the young plant when just up is as tender a.
Il bean. and will succumb to the slightest
frost. When it has put out the third and
fourth leaves however, which it will do in
few DAYS, it will withstand any ordinary frost
Seed is worth here thirteen and Il half to
fourteen cents per pound. but will be a little
higher the planting season opens. should
not think the freight. even on small lots
would be over two or two and half cents
per pouad TO Chicago. ! mention these prices
because | see some of the seedmen East are
way up in their charges for seed.
The practice here varies a. to the mode Of
planting. II was been sown with success both
with oats and wheat. Oats appear-to have
the preference because they will stand more
water than wheat Have heard people who
have sown with grain declare they would
never do 20 again. Ny own practice has been
TO sGw alone, and have not had any Difficult.
iy ia getting stand, except ON some ground
which is exceptionally dry aud which loses
its moisture very quickly after irrigation. ]
have some Of tins description TO sow this year,
aud shall try with cats fer the sake of a
shade Bat where the soil is Of different
character think sowing alone preferable as
IL gives the young plants the full strength Of
the soil from the start, and | believe the
growth will be enough better 10 pay for IL.
Under favorable conditions the young alfalfa
will make a rapid growth, hut when the weeds
get under way care must I've taken that IL is
not smuthrrci by them. As the wee'is come
mp over the top put in the machine and cut
til. whbl. down. IL will be worth saving for
hay. hut difficult 10 cure, because of the. .suc-
cui,ncc of the weeds. With good growth
there will be no weeds 10 bother after the first
cutting.
| believe il is a safe rule to cut alfalfa when
ever IL IL big enough. Prefer to take IL Just
before II comes into bloom; but after the
bloom shows 1t shouli come down ai once as
il l. growing no better very fast. 1t has
tendency to lose it, leaves, which crumhlc
and fall from the stem with the slightest
movement For this reason IL should bc
rakcd into winrows a. soon a. well wiltci and
beg,rv approaching what would be regarded
u proper condition for clover, and should be
H. f.a
stack The cocks should not bS small stacks
from which the has tn bc tumble,l aud pulled
but of such convenient siZe that the fork can
take them up in sections and deposit them on
the wagon with the least possible disturbance.
IL will not do 10 tumble and pitch 1t about
like other hay. 1t can safely be put into
stack or NOV with more moisture in the stems
than ANYTHING else because the leaves arc so
dry n. 10 absorb what would otherwise be n
destructive surplus of moisture. Properly
cured the hay will come out OF the stacks al
most rs green as when growing in the field.
The alfalfa plant is very singular in its be-
havior ns tn water. 1t throws down n strong
straight tap root, which will find sufficient
moisture before IL stops growing If there is
any in the country. For this reason its ahil-
ity 10 Withstand drouth is remarkable. But
! doubt whether, when put TO the test of a
drouth, IL IL will do much. IL will live II Is
true. but its production must necessarily be
ter, apparently, the better. When the wealth
cr is cool aud the plant making but slight
growth, IL appears 10 resent the application
Of water, and to be injured by any moisture
bcvond that with which ii supplies itself
through its lower roots. But when the sun
shines blazing down, and the air, rocks and
soil are heated the alfalfa wants water, aud
pour IL on, for no crop will stand more. II
will live and hold up Its heau and make
some growth without drop. but give it lots
of drink aud IL will grow like a hoau--an
inch day with all ease. Much of our sue.
cess with 1t depends upon the Judgment aud
fidelity with which il is irrigated.
/, would be difficult to answer the question
rs to whether IL can be ndrantagcously cult.
yatci where irrigation is not practiced. !
certainly should not ask any one to take my
opinion on the subject in tnct ! should not
regard anybody's mere opinion as worth any.
thing. The cnterprsing farmer had better
try an acre or two before vcnturng largely;
aud from what has been said. !, seems scarce
ly worth while TO made n trial except upon
drained lands or those having good surface
drainage. There seems no occasion for doubt
US to its stability to make as good growth with
natural moisture ~ clover; perhaps 1t might
always do better or prove superior in dry
seasons. IL the yield of each should he found
about the same, there have been no feeding
experiments to show tina, any great prefer.
encc should bc given to one over the other.
But the alfalfa is n permanent crop. When
II has been three or four years IN the ground,
and acquired full-sized root, no farmer Will
be able 10 whistle mn acre of IT out of the
ground before breakfast, or between two
breakfasts, But II it proves good thing.
why should any one wish To cStirpatc II? III
4 ,,,t th 4 yh. m