The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-02-21

The first essential condition for success
with alfalfa is a porous subsoil. This IS
of much more Importance than moisture
for if the soil is congenial the roots viii
reach the moisture even If it lies too
deep to benefit other crops There are
tracts In some or the best farming re-
gions In eastearE Kansas where alfalfa
does but poorly because the roots can
not penetrate the subsoil. although corn
and small grains do well there. and
am informed that the same is true IN
the neighborhood of Emporia- Here at
the college alfalfa does only moderately
well because in most places the roots
strike an impervious subsoil, the so
called .'gumbo," at depth of from four
TO ten feet / enlarge upon this point
because by so doing may. perhaps. save
some from disappointment. Ii is use
less to sow alfalfa on shallow soil with
an impervious subsoil, and if the soil Is
underlaid with a hard stratum the
growth, yield and longevity of the plant
will be almost in direct ratio TO the dis
tance this stratum is from the surface.
As to its ability to Withstand drouth, it
is to be noticed that moisture is neceS-
sary to plant growth, but other condi-
tons favorable, alfalfa once established,
will probably succeed better In dry
regions than any other farm crop. 1t is
well known that it yields phenomenaliy
under irrigation. That it is well suited
to that system of farming has been
| abundantiy proven in California, Colo
RADIO, Utah and even here IN Kansas, and
from the fact that until comparatively
recently it was scarcely grown any
where in this country except under irri-
cation, the idea became rooted that 1t
could not be grown under any other sys-
tenn; this is fallaey, however. Those
who cannot irrigate need not despair of
success even in dry regions. At the re-
cent meeting of the Kansas State Board
of Agriculture, alfalfa grows from Ford
and Finney counties testified to the sue
cess OF the plant with them without irri-
! CATION, and showed that the acreage had
in the last few years increased almost
hundred fold as the direct result of the
success of the plant on land not under
irrigation. IL this be true of western
Kansas, there is no region In the state
that need hesitate on the score of mois-
! ture, though of course it does best when
the supply of rain is ample. On the
other hand, alfalfa will be failure on
water logged soil. Swamps and low
places where the water comes TO within
couple of feet of the surface are as un-
suited to its growth as is shallow soil
underlaid with hard pan.
The preparation of the soil for seeding
is like that required for any crop of
small grain. Deep and thorough pulyer-
ization is to be preferred. This is in
fact more necessary to alfrlfa than it is
! he.
seeding should be done in early spring,
about the time oats are sown. Other
seasons are sometimes recommended.
but with the uncertainty of rainfall
peculiar to Kansas it is not safe to put it
off. Nor should alfalfa be sown with
any other crop. Speaking for the region
about Manhattan, it would be a failure
nine times out of ten if sown with oats
or anything else. Young alfalfa plants
are tender and they would be burned up
when suddenly exposed to our scalding
midsummer sun on the removal of the
oats. 1t must have the land to itself
from the start. Break down the Jumps
and smooth the surface with plank
drag if necessary; then sow the seed
broadcast, at the rate of twenty pounds
to the acre, and cover by going over it
once or twice with smoothing harrow,
and if the character of the soil requires
the use of roller, then finish with it.
The first season the growth is usually
feeble. The vigor that cbaracterizes it
later does not begin until the roots have
struck well down into the subsoil and
any adverse condition, as severe drouth,
hard grazing or a choking growth OF
weeds, is likely to prove fatal. Keep the
weeds in check by running the mower
over the field three or four times during
the season and raise the finger-bar SO
high that it will miss the young alfalfa.
No crop should be expected the first
year and it is best not to Craze it either,
unless itshould be uncommonly vigorous.
But if it grows well the first year
cropping can begin the second and con-
tinue yearly as long as the one who
sowed will want to harvest
1t is sometimes recommended to SOW
it In rows far enough apart to admit of
the use of a cultivator between them.
Whether this will conduce to the long
levity of the plant / cannot say, but
know it does not favor an. increase IN
yield and the stems will be coarser than
when broadcasted. 1t is growing both
ways here on the College Farm, and /
prefer it broadcasted. 1t can, however,
be sown with grain drill if so desired.
Alfalfa is better for hay than for pas
ture for the reason that the green feed
will frequently cause loss of animals by
bloating. If cattle are pastured on it
they should be closely watched, but for
hog pasture it has probably no equal
For hay it is usually cut three times
during the summer, and occasionally
four times. The point Is to cut it at the
right time. Our farmers are too prone
to leave all of their hay crops too long
before they are cut, whether clover,
millet or prairie grass, not fully appTe-
eating that the quality deteriorates after
certain stage has passed. In the case
of alfalfa such delay is fatal. 1t should
be cut when about one-fourth Of tile
bloom is visible, ND matter what its
heighth is or how much it viii yield. If
it passes beyond this stage the lower
portion of the stem becomes woody and
Will be refused by stock unless they are
staryesi to il, the leaves will partially |
drop of and the entire nufritive |
qualities be diminished. The curing !
is rather difficult to manage. !
If left in the sun too long il |
becomes brittle and the leaves, the most /
nutritious portion, are lost in handling. |
On clear DAYS what is cut IN the morning j
can be raked aud cooked before night /
the same day, aud when finally cured in /
the cock K should be housed or stacked i
before il rams. if possible
There IS quite demand for seed from /
the large seed establishments all over the /