The Florence tribune., 1901-11-30
Cultivation of Alfalfa.

The government has recently issued a bulletin giving full information rel alive to the cultivation of alfalfa that will bs of interest to many who pro- pose growing this crop, and who have had little or no experience in this line:
 Alfalfa will grow in favorable soi anywhere from above sea level to 1000 feet elevation. The limit of altitude is attained in the foothills and noun tain valleys of California and Colorado
 Alfalfa does not seem to be influenced so much by altitude as by such condi- tions as the depth and warmth of the soil, the depth of the ground water below the surface and the physical character of the subsoil. It grows best in a light ard sandy rich loam underlaid by loose and permeablc subsoil. The best conditions for the growth of this plant seem to be attained in the arid regions of the West and Southwest, where there is light rain fall. and the water supply can be accordingly artifcially controlled The plant grows best under irrigation. Good drainage is necessary, ss the plants are quickly killed by excess of water in the soil or on the surface
 Water must never be allowed to stand on a field of alfalfa more than forty eight hours ats time, for, if the ground becomes saturated with water and is allowed to remain so for any consider able time, the plants will be drowned out and the roots will decay Alfalfa feeds most heavily on lime, potash, mag nesium and phosphoric acid. and sue eeeds best where the soil is rich in
 these elements Of these soil constit-
 uents, lime seems to be the most es-
 sential to rapid growth, and there will
 not be a large or paying crop on soils
 lacking this fertilizer. The prime con
 dition for success is that the land bs
 well drained If the subsoil is heavy and stiff and impervious to water
 alfalfa will not be permanent success no matter how well the surface soil ha.
 been prepared Under these condi
 tions there can be no ce rtainty of tn . plant living beyond year or two.
 : There is no better hay plant thai alfalfa inresions where it will grow The making of hay requires consider
 ble skill on account of the nature o
 the plant. If the hay is put int
 stacks or into barns before the stem
 are cured it is liable to heat and mol and if it is allowed to lie upon tn
 ground to long before stacking, tn
 leaves get dry and brittle, and vii e drop off, and large share of the mos = valuable part Of the forage will 7 lost. To make the best hay, the fiel 6 should be cut just when the frs flowers commence to appear. If d
 lowed to go until in full bloom, or up a til after the plants have finishes Towering, the stems become hard a
 woody. and are unfit to oe eaten sa stock To make good hay, cut alfali ,. in the forenoon Let it lie until tn 2 leaves are thoroughly wilted, but no f dry and brittle then rake in windrow
 and leave it little while, and remov 2 it from the windrows directly to th g stack or to the barns. The 5es + machine for this purpose is stacker or some machine constructed on th . principle of the old fashioned "ge v dev i !" It is better to stack it in th y field than to carry it a long distance 1 y 8 barn, for alfalfa hay should q handled as little as possible. Ever . time if is forked over some of ti U leaves will he lost, and the leaves sr the most palatable and nutritious par
 of the hay.