The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1899-04-07
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Growing Alfalfa.

| hC INdubdb Agricultural SOlleBe udo
been investigating the growing of al
falfa on the uplands and lowlands of
that state. From interviews with
fifty-one growers of alfalfa they ar
rived at the following conclusion, as
published in the Industrialist:
Question How many cuttings do
you get from your alfalfa per year,"
The number of cuttings varies from
one to four, with yield of one-half
ton to six tons per acre. Mr.. Fitz-
gerald says that alfalfa on Buffalo
Creek valley in Jewell and Cloud coun-
ties will yield five crops per year, If
cut at the right time. G. R. ALBANIAN
of Wallace gets four crops and pas
lures off the fifth crop in the fall.
Q. PAT what stage of growth 40
you cut it,"
The majority prefer to cut it in the
bloom for cattle, though a few would
cut earlier Nearly all who use it for
horses agree that it should be cut when
fairly well developed and the seed pods
set.
@. 3-"What is the effect upon the
succeeding crops of cutting at different
stages Of growth?"
The great majority of the farmers
interviewed believe that this has no
effect upon the succeeding crop. DR.. nj.
F. Hudson of Osborne says: ut should
be cut just as soon as it comes into
blossom, the early harvesting seeming
| to vitalize the plant and stimulate its
growth. The hay when cut early is
more nutritious, containing a larger
percentage of heterogeneous matter"
Q. 4-"When do you SOW alfalfa, and
how much seed do you use?"
Successes and failures were reported
from sowing in every month from
March to September. The condition
of the ground at the time of sowing
is more important than the time, pro-
vided the seed be sown in the growing
season. In western Kansas on high
land the ground ought to be subsoiled
and subsurface packed the fall prior
to sowing, in order that all the winter
rains and SHOWS may be retained in the
soil. Alfalfa should not be sown until
after a good drain, when the ground is
wet eighteen to twenty inches deep.
The Hon. c. B. Daughters of Lincoln
believes the majority of failures to get
stand are due to late sowing. He
would not SOW as late as the LIST of
May, because the weeds are liable to
get start of the young plants. s.
Larrick Of Lenora, Norton county, has
had the best success from sowing in
August, and believes it would be all
right to sow as late as the middle of
September. From ten to sixty pounds
of seed were recommended for an
acre. The prevailing opinion seems to
be that twenty pounds per acre should
be sown on rich valley land, for a hay
crop. If the crop is to be used for
seed, the plants should be more thinly
distributed over the ground. Eighteen
persons interviewed favor twenty
pounds, seven prefer thirty, one prefers
forty-fve pounds and got his finest
stand from sowing sixty pounds.
Twelve prefer fifteen, two prefer
twelve and two think ten pounds suf
ficient. Drilling requires less seed than
broadcasting.
@. 5-"What kind of a soil do you
prefer?"
The majority of answers indicate
preference for sandy loan with a
porous or jointed-clay subsoil, under
laid with sand and sheet water at a
depth of fifteen to twenty feet. The
neyt best soil is alkali "gumbo," with
a ss,uilar subterranean formation. Few
farmers can choose the location of
their alfalfa lands, being of necessity
limited to the soil they already own.
@. 6-"How do you prepare the soil
before seeding, and what should be it's |
condition at the time OF seeding?"
The preparation of the soil varies |
with it's nature and location. If the |
sybsoil is impervious to water, it will |
be necessary to subsoil the land eight |
cen to twenty-four inches deep. If the |
subsoil is porous, ordinary blowing |
will suffice. All agree that the surface |
should be in the finest of filth. Plow- |
ing should be done long enough before |
seeding to allow the soil to settle |
somewhat. The land should be free
from weed seeds. If the land is foul
it will pay to wait year before seed
ing, until it can be freed from weeds
by clean culture.
@. 7-"What method of seeding do
you prefer?"
rwenty-nine favor broadcasting and
twenty prefer drilling. Both lists of
answers contain the names of very
successful alfalfa growers. Where
drilling was recommended the press
drill was generally preferred.
Q. S-"What treatment do you give
the crop the first year after seeding?"
The treatment prescribed was to NOW
the weeds as often as they need it. A
few farmers stipulated that it is an
to the young plants to prune
them, and, therefore, preferred to NOV
often, whether there were many weeds
or not County Attorney NJ. A. Wilson
Of Atwood prescribes the following