The record-union., 1892-06-24
SOMEWHAT MIXED.
A Little Learning is a Dangerous
Thing.
ignorant Californians Instructed in
Alfalfa Culture by a Denver
Red Clover Editor.

The Denver Field and Farm, in its is
sue of June 18th, publishes the follow
ing article, entitled ''The Growing of
Altalfa":
While the writer was in California lately he
YVES surprised TO find how little the farmers
there knew about the cultivation OF alfalfa.
All OF them whom he talked with expressed
desire 10 know more about the methods OF
cultivation in Colorado. We told them that
in this country it is best to sow reasonably
early. Some claim that the best results are
obtained By sowing with oats. In California
they must SOW with the first fall rains. In
Colorado take the first opportunity IN the
spring for doing the work, as earliness Is
quite an item with both alfalfa and oats.
others sow the alfalfa alone about the time OF
the last snow, say about the last week in Feb
ruary. These claim that when the alfalfa is
sown with small grain after the crop is har-
vested, the plants, being so suddenly exposed
TO the not sun after being sheltered all through
their growth previously, are killed out.
Some pillow under early in the fail where
good stage OF growth has been secured, claim
ing that there is large amount of valuable
plant food in the alfalfa which, if piowed
under when green, Will be returned TO the soil.
Others either let the alfalfa die down in the
fall or cut it down with mower and let it lie
until spring, when it is plowed under. Those
following this plan claim that keeping the soil
shaded aids in storing fertility, and hence the
advantage III letting the alfalfa lie on the
ground until spring, and then pillow under and
either plant to corn or potatoes, and then SOW
years rotation; or by having oats follow the
corn or potatoes and then wheat, and back
again to alfalfa. making four years rota-
ton.
MOthers pillow under the second growth IN the
fall and SOW to wheat. In a locality where
the oats can be soWn early, usually not later
than the last week in February, sowing alfalfa
with the oats will nearly always give good re-
suits, but when the seeding must be delayed
until March because the soil cannot be suit
ably prepared before il Will be best to SOW
alone. the winter wheat in order to oct
the work uone early.
Alfalfa aids to build up the fertility by
mulcning the soil. Shading the soil aids in
the process of restoring nitrogen, and good
growth OF alfalfa will shade the soil COM
pletely. The roots extend deep into the sub
soil and bring up more or less fertility to the
surface, and in this way the surface soil is
enriched. Alfalfa is a gross teeGer, and de-
rives some of its sustenance from the air, and
in this way adds to the fertility. The first
crop may be cut for hay, be fed out to stock
ana the manure hauled out and applied TO
the soil, and the second crop be plowed under
TO add to the fertility. 1t is not beStto depend
upon alfalfa alone to keep up the fertility but
il is very important item, and on the ma
iority of farms, especially in the West, there is
not so much sown as there should be.
Should Colorado people ask our advice
regarding the growth of alfalfa, it is to be
hoped that we may be modest enough to
outline our system, and suggest that their
experience will be their best guide as to
whether any of its features are adapted to
their conditions.
From the above article we should Judge
that the writer remembered a little about
red clover from his boyhood experience
somewhere in the East, had heard a little
about alfalfa in Colorado, was greatly flat
tered to be consulted, thought anybody
could farm or teach farmers, and 10 I" we
have a Daniel come to Judgment Pos
sibly he might have found some one who
thought ne knew all about farming. who
was as ignorant as his remarks imply
Perhaps he saw a man with the consump-
ton. He might have noticed some patch
OF alkali soil. His style OF logic would lead
him to assert that CalilOrnians are con-
sumptiVe, and the land is too strongly
impregnated with alkali to be productive
Those who SPEND Il week or month in
California often return with very positive
IDEAS, and report that all California is like
what they saw.
reliable information carefully prepared
is easily accessible to ali, and there is no
excuse for this haSty kind OF miSrepre-
sentation. Probably the mass OF Caliior-
MIA farmers are as we'll informed as those
of other States as to treatment OF
alfalfa under our peculiar condition.
Some OF them will be very much amused
by the views OF our new instructor. Il
will not be necessary, here to assert that
while alfalfa is of the clover family. it
roots much deeper; is of more vigorous
growth and responds more gratefully to
the effects Of water and heat than the old
red clover; that conditions OF our soil are
not such as TO incline farmers TO the sys-
tenn Of green manuring, or that the sou Of
alfalfa is so touga that il is very hard 10
pillow tract that is thoroughly rooted If
we should tell nina that alfalfa roots often
extend twenty 10 thirty feet in search OF
moisture, and that we have many alfalfa
fields that have produced uniformity good
crops for ten TO twenty years in success
sion ne would think it a California
He Is right IN the assertion that all clovers
draw largely from the subsoil and from
the air. and that their use is among the
best aud cheapest OF all means OF reStor-
ing mpaired fertility. Possibly the time
may come when Californians will find il
best 10 avail themselves of these methods
The article quoted is representative OF a
large class that gain circulation through
those who may be we'll qualified to in
struct upon other subjects, and they that
think that farming requires neither study
nor perience-oniy what they delight
to call common sense" Their writings
chiefly harm such rs blindly follow any
advice that appears iii print, and also
harm ali agricultural journalism III the
estimation OF those who reason that be-
cause one is wrong all are wrong.
FRANK :. CHAPLIN.