The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-08-08
f ARM AFT AIRS.
THR ALFALFA PLANT.
A Western Farmer Tells of It in His
Section

Correspondence Of the Progressive Farmer,
Alfalfa ia a species of Chilian clover,
some times called lucerne, ex xsensively
grown in the irrigated sections of the
Rocky Mountain States. The plant
was introduced into California fifty
years ago, and has since become the
popular forage plant OF the arid States.
1t has long tap root, going several
feet for moisture, and is a great drouth
resister. The plant is peculiarly
adapted to irrigated lands but will
thrive in the rainbelt, if sown on we'll
drained soil. 1t yields from two to
six good crops of hay every year, some
farmers in the valleys of Arizona,
California, and New Mexico getting
ten tons an acre from four cuttings.
The seed weighs so pounds to the
bushel and fair crops yield from ten to
twenty bushels per acre, selling gen
orally at seven cents a pound.
The plant is rich in protein, making
it an excellent muscle producing food,
for COWS, pigs, and general farm ami
mails. The green leaves are relished
by poultry, and where it is kept we'll
pastured the alfalfa field is good for
dairy COWS. When in blossom an
alfalfa crop supplies much food for
bees and the honey made from such
flowers is relished by the most dainty
appetite. 1t is not considered q first
class food for working horses unless
accompanied by fair grain rations, be
cause Of the temporary nutritive value.
Alfalfa lawns are becoming quite pop
ular, as the plant will stand all the
water applied and suffer neglect with
out any noticeable deterioration.
Alfalfa seed has an oily coating which
protects it from cold and dry weather.
1t should be sown early in the spring,
either by the broadcast method or
with the press drill. If sown for seed.
ing purposes twelve pounds will be
sufficient for an acre, but for hay many
SOW from twenty to thirty pounds
The soil must be in good condition ana
if the land is old it is best to have the
alfalfa preceded by a hoed crop. As it
is leguminous crop and collects nitro
gen from the atmosphere, the only fer
tiljz9rs needed to make good crops are
phosphoric acid and potash. These
can be supplied by using either acid
phosphate or ground bone to furnish
phosphoric acid, aud muriate or sui
phate Of potash for potash. Two hun
dred and fifty to 800 pounds of bone or
acid phosphate, and $50 to 300 pounds
muriate or sulphate Of potash per acre
would suffice for the purpose.
Cutting of alfalfa should begin when
the blossoms show over the top Of the
plants. IT left to get old the stems be-
come sticky and are Of no value for
food for any animal. After laying in
the swath about one day it may be
raked into windrowe, then cooked for
hauling. The most of Western alfalfa
is stacked in the field with no covering
or other protection, hut it makes better
hay by being stacked in barn or shed,
or covered with straw or canvass. If
fifteen pounds of salt be scattered over
each wagon load as it ie stacked the
hay will be more readily eaten by
stock. When stacked out in the field
it should be ventilated by boxes or
poles running through the center OF
the stack, from the ground up.
An alfalfa field will stand many
years after it is once set and get better
with age, if not neglected during the
irrigation season or left in pasture too
long in the spring and fall. Where
not pastured the surplus leaves form
winter mulch and spring fertilizer.
Hare our way Of applying water is the
turrow system OF having bitches about
of the land. S)me farmers food the
fields successfully, but that ia not al
ways practicable or advisable. If the
plant is irrigated it should be done
just after each cutting to start the
young shoots at once in order 70 pro
tect the roots from the sun. In North
Carolina the roots will always have
plenty OF moisture from below.
The chief enemy Of the alfalfa plant
is the dodder or love vine. I5 is a
parasite. growing exclusively from the
sap Of the alfalfa stems, and will soon
destroy a field if not checked. Some
report it being poisonous to stock, but
this is Questioned. The cheapest and
best means of stopping the gro Eth of
this plant is to spray over the clusters
with kerosene and burn the plant and
seed. The fire will not destroy the