The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-03-10
ALFALFA ON CLAY SOIL.

Unless the clay subsoil ia hardpan,
I see no reason why alfalfa should not
succeed on the ground described,
writes G. L. Stoddard, of Illinois. The
difficulty on such is in obtaining
a stand, the alfalfa making but a
slender growth the first summer and
on shallow soils being especially liable
to destruction by extremes OF wet OF
drouth. In the spring of 1891 sowed
one bushel of alfalfa seed, putting it
on at the rate of eight quarts per acre
as follows: One-hslt acre sowed on
dry upland upon which winter wheat
was growing, ihe latter part of March,
about the time clover is usually sown.
The fiel6 was not narrowed or the
seed covered in any way. This plot
was a complete failure, only few
plants appearing. One and one-hali
acres of ground recently drilled to
oats was seeded and the seed covered
lightly with brush. The soil was a
thin gravelly loan with clay subsoil.
1t had formerly been a clover meadow
containing bunches of timothy. The
clover having died out, the field had
become quite foul With ragweeds and
foxtail grass. 7 plot WAS also
failure. A sparse sand on the dryer
portions of the grounds was choked by
the weeds and grass or killed by hot
dry weather in August.
One and one-half acres were sown
on rich sandy bottom land with clay
subsoil. This was sown with oats in
the same manner as the preceding
plot and was partially successful. This
plot was narrow strip adjoining a
timothy meadow, one end being lower
than the other. On the lower end,
the oats lodged badly and very poor
stand of alfalfa resulted. On the re-
naming three.fourths q good stand
was secured, the alfalfa making fair
growth after the oats we're cut. In
connection with the timothy meadow,
it was pastured to some extent late in
the fall, but not closely. 1t made
rank growth the next summer, being
cut once only for hay and then pas
tured until the following spring, VIII en-,
owing to the poor stand on the end
mentioned, it was plowed up. Any
one who has ever helG the plow han.
dies when breaking an alfalfa sod will
have no doubt of the ability of the al
falfa roots to penetrate hard soils. 1t
reminds one of breaking hazel ground.
A half acre was sown with oats, as
before described, on upland with red
clay subsoil, the surface soil, sandy
loan, being fertile, having been
manured for several years. An excel
lent stand resulted. The ground is
occupied by young pear orchard and
consequently has never been pastured.
1t has been cut three or four times
every summer. This year I began
cutting the second crop and feeding it
green to my calves just as it was com.
ing into bloom month ago, July l. I
shall finish cutting the plot this week,
the first of August. The little that
remains OF the second crop is covered
with pods filled with matured seed but
the stalks and leaves are still fresh and
green. We have had frequent showers
since I began cutting md the third crop
where I first cut is ten to twelve inches
high. 1 shall begin cutting it az soon
as I am through with the second.
My experience leads me to believe
that alfalfa will catch best soWn on
clean ground without other gram, but
would add sprinkle of ordinary red
ciover-one or two quarts of clover to
six of alfalfa for on acre Of ground. A
narrow strip Oh one side of the plot
last described was given sprinkle OF
clover on account of the alfalfa seed
running short. The two grew together
in friendly way far a year or two but
now the alfalfa hos the field. intend
to try sowing some next spring on
winter rye, narrowing the ground
thoroughly before and lightly after
sowing. A9riculturist.