The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-04-05
LUCERNE OR ALFALFA.
A Practical Farmer Explains How
Benefts the Soil.

Benefits the Soil.
How can plants increase the fertility
of the soil? In two ways. One by
adding to it that part of themselves
which they obtain from the air, and the
other by searching many feet into the
ground with their roots. and bringing
to the surface the chemicals and fertil-
izing materials stored there. This is
lucerne's method of benefiting the soil.
This letter from practical farmer COM
pletely explains every point:
Lucerne will grow on any land that
will produce wheat. corn or potatoes,
and will thrive on many lands that none
of these will grow on, especially very
light sand or gravel. though it does
well on clay. But it will not grow on
land where the water stands within one
foot of the surface, and there is no use
sowing it in an alkali that is strong
enough to keep wheat from growing.
Though particular about wet land. 1t
will stand any amount of wet in
summer, as long as there is plenty Of
drainage. 1t will also stand all
of the water of winter that may fall
in the shape of rain, or snow that may
melt. 1t is quick grower, and will
mature the first crop in about two
months from the time that the growth
commences. The second crop will ma
ture in about six weeks from the cut
ting. and the third in about five weeks
from cutting of the second. The sec
ond crop is the heaviest, but the first is
little the best feed. 1t will yield about
an average of six tons per acre. 1t is
perennial of the clover tribe.
The best method is to sow broadcast
about fifteen pounds per acre where the
land is in good condition. but on very
weedy land or clear gravel or sand that
is very poor, put about three pounds
more. You can not get any crop from
it the first year, but do not get dis
couraged if the plants are on an aver
age of ten inches apart, little. slim.
single stems about four or six inches
high. 1t is best to sow with grain.
Oats are the best; thus you will lose no
time. but can have crop from your
land every year. In fact it does better
to have it shaded when young. Sow at
the same time that you do spring
grain.
Where there is plenty of rain, no
cultivation is needed; but in a few years
it will make clear sand rich land,
owing to the decay of the root. The
roots will sink themselves for 4 distance
of ten to twenty feet straight down.
and fully one-halt decays every year
from the outside, and keeps growing
larger from the center every year.
1t should be cut when in full bloom.
A little old is better than too young;
when the bloom is ready to fall off is
not too late. Do not cut too much at
once, for if you allow rain to come
on your hay after it is cut it will not
be worth more that one-half for feed
and will be entirely worthless for mar
ket. Heavy dews are not good, either.
Let me warn you against condemning
it as a worthless lot OF sticks until you
try your horses and COWS and see them
clean up the sticks before they do the
leaves. There are not many animals
that take to it when dry without hav-
ing it in their manger few days with
other hay; but in few days you will
see the grass hay left, while the lucerne
is cleaned up. A ton of lucerne will not
60 quite as FAR as ton of timothy. Do
not let hungry cattle get on it while
green, especially when wet. for it will
bloat them. II you wish to pasture it,
first feed your stock all they can and
will eat and then turn them on the
green lucerne. and no harm will come
to them. 1t is the best thing to renew
old, worn out land that l ever saw
n. E.. Farmer.