People's voice., 1894-03-30
KANSAS, FRIDAY MARCH 30, 1894.
Alfalfa Clover.


ed my article on Alfalfa Clover. So,
according to promise, will give my
mode Of preparation and culture.
| am very sorry to inform you that
my clover is frozen down. Prior to
this freeze, especially on the 23rd and
9th inst. it stood nearly six inches
high on an average, and if it had not
frozen down it would been ready 10
cut the last half of April. This freeze
will set it back probably one month.
| am also grieved to realize that our
apricOts, peaches, plumS and cherries
are killed. There is some hope for
apples, grapes and berries. The ice
on twelve-fOOt water tank on Easter
morning was over one inch thick. The
past three weeks the weather mas been
remarkably fine, worthy the "Sobri-
quet of Grand March" The past three
days aud nights seemed like a calam-
ity, but we must put up with it and
try ard console ourselves that it is no
more.
Now to the subject: The proper
time to plough the ground for alfalfa
is in the fall. Plough deep; subSoil is
better. Old ground and land which
has been well cultivated and as free
of weed seed as possible is good: and
about the last half of April cultivate
the ground thoroughly in order to de-
StrOy weeds and prepare a fine seed
bed after the ground is put in the
best possible condition. Sow not less
than twenty pounds Of seed to the
scrs. Great care sh>uld be exercised
in order to get the seed evenly dlstrl.
buted, as a failure in getting a good
stand does not improve by time. If
you SOW broadcast nothing will cover
the seed better or even as good as the
Acme harrow. The young plant is
very tender and light freeze or heavy
frost will kill it dead. Therefore, it
is necessary to put off seeding until
the danger Of frost is past. | used a
"Dowajiac rolling press drill" broad
cast seeder attached in front, the
wheels and drags covering the seed
elegantly. / have no experience in
any ether kind of drill. The ground
or surface should be left smooth.
About the time a portion of the
clover is in bloom it must bC
moved, removing the hay and weeds
This should be repeated as soon as the
clover is in full bloom again. The
clover amounts to nothing unless cut
two or three times the first year.
Stock of no kind should be allowed
to run on the clover the first year, ex
cept late III the fall. The second sea
son, if plenty Of moisture, can be GU
three to four times for hay, which
should be done as soon as the majOrit!
is in bloom. The seed of the seconC
crop is profitable, although ever.
crop has seed. 1t should not be Gu
for seed until the majority of tn,
leaves have fallen off and the bulk o
the seed pods turn brown. 1t shou.C
scar but very little; put in medium
shocks and then in stack as soon a
possible, the stalk being coarseit vii
dry out and scar in stack, and stacl
better than any other grass.
} Any good threshing machine vii
threSh it by doubling up the concav
teeth. From two to four bushels is
! good average of seed, usually worth s
| per bushel. 1t will turn off from tw
: to five tons of hay per season. l hav
= sold the hay from So, s. and IS pc
) ton; the latter is the price at the pres
J ent time. If the ground was no
) ploughed good last fall it should b
I done right away. Respt.,
A. G. FORNEY.