The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1896-03-12
CONCERNING ALFALFA.
A Kansas Authority Makes Some State
ments of General Interest.

ments Of General Interest.
g. G. Georgeson, writing to Prairie
Farmer from the Kansas station, gives
information that answers questions fre.
quently asked at farmers clubs and in
stitutes. He says:
Experience proves that alfalfa can be
sown at almost any time in the spring
and summer. 1t is usual, however, to
SOW it early in April or even in March
if the weather permits 1t is essential
to select land with an open subsoil, so
that the roots can penetrate into the
ground. If the land is clay soil, deep,
and the subsOil of an impervious nature,
it is not likely to prove good soil for al
falfa. If sown in the spring, il is best
to select ground not too much infested
with weed seeds. The young alfalfa
plant is somewhat tender and can be
readily choked out by rank growth of
weeds. To keep the weeds down NOW
the patch occasionally, setting the cut
ter bar so high that it misses most of
the alfalfa. Old, weedy ground can be
sown to advantage in July or early Au-
gust, provided there is rain enough at
that season to put the seed bed in good
order to start the alfalfa growing. The
weeds at that time are not so rank and
had better be kept in check.
As to the quantity of seed, 90 pounds
per acre is usual amount. On rich
ground which will cause rank growth
10 pounds is enough, and on thin soil
25 pounds may be used. Twill add that
l have adopted the plan Of seeding not
only alfalfa, but other grasses and clo-
vers as we'll, with press drill. use
an ordinary wheat drill with force feed
and cross drill the ground, putting half
the quantity Of seed each way. In dry
seasons much better stand is secured
this way than by broadcasting, and it
requires somewhat less seed. The objec-
tion sometimes urged that the drill puts
the seed In too deeply is not we'll found
ed. More seed is killed by being planted
too shallow than too deep and this is
especially true of grasses.
Alfalfa is an excellent food for milk
cows. 1t should not be pastured, how.
oNSlJ uuV lSu dS sOllillB CIOp, anu al
lowed to wilt before it is given to the
cattle. If pastured or fed fresh, it will
occasionally cause an animal to bloat.
This may, however, be obviated by feed
ing some hay or straw along with it.
Its nutritive qualities are superior to
those Of clover and indeed to all other
green feeds usually grown in this coun-
try.
Green alfalfa contains IT'S per cent
water and Of the digestible nutrients
S.6 per cent Of protein, ia carbohy-
drates and per cent fat. Alfalfa hay
can be fed to any kind of stock Here
In Kansas we even feed it to hogs in
winter with good results. Care should
be taken to cure it properly. If dried
too much, the leaves will fall off in
handling, and the quality of the hay de-
teriorates in consequence. The rake
should follow the mower in "a few hours,
and it should be cured in rather large
cocks, and when cured it is best to haul
it while moist with dew to avoid the
scattering of the leaves. 1t is usually the
second crop that is allowed to 60 to
seed. The first cutting does not, AS a
rule, set much seed, and the third cut.
ting is apt to be too light to yield much.