The Red Cloud chief., 1888-04-20
lUCERNE OR ALFALFA.
4 Practical FARMER Expsins How
BENEFITS the soil.

4 Practical YaPmeP Explains How II
Benefits the oil
How ran 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
l~ucerne's method If benefting the soil.
This letter from a practical farmer COM
pletely explains every point:
Lucerne will grow on any land that
will produce wheat. Orn 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 wher. the water stands within one
foot of the surface. and there is no use
sowing it in an alSali that is strong
enough to keep wheat from growing.
Though particular about we. land. 1t
will stand any amount Of wet in
summer. Is long ~ there is plenty Of
drainage. It will also stand all
Of the water of winter hat may fall
in the shape OF rain. or snow that may
melt. 1t is u quick grower. and will
mature the first crop in about two
months from the time that tho growth
commences The second crop will ma
ture in about six weeks from the cut
ting, and tie third in about five weeks
from cutting of the second. The Sec
ond crop is the heaviest. but the first is
a little the best feed. 1t will yield about
IN average Of six tons per acre. 1t is
y 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 Oh 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 no get dis
couraged if the plants are on IN 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 4 crop from your
land every year. In fac; it does better
to have it shaded when young. Sow ut
the same time tina: you do spring
grain.
Where there is plenty of rain. no
cr1,, : ,o,l.l. l.,. -, ., fn,r- raSP
it will make clear sand a rich land.
owing to the decay If the roo The
roots will sink themselves for 4 distance
of ten to twenty feet straight down.
and fully One-half decays every year
from the outside. and keeps growing
larger from the center YER year.
It 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 no: tut tOO much at
once. for if you allow u rain to come
on your hay after it is cut 1t 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 condemnlnS
it AS a worthless lot If sticks until you
try your horses and rows and see them
clean up the sticks before they do the
leaves. There are not many animals
tina: take to it when dry without hav-
ing it in their Manager a few days with
other hay; hut in Il few days You will
see the grass hay left. while the lucerne
is cleaned u?. A ton of lucerne will not
go quite IS EAR As Il ton of timothy. Do
not let hungry cattle get oil it while
green. especially when wet. for it will
bloat them. II you wish to pasture it.
first feed o u stock all they 4 and
will eat and then turf them on the
green lucerne. and no harm will come
to- them. 1t is the best thing to renew
old, worn ont land that l ever saw
u. E. Turner.