Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1901-01-04
Seeding Alfalfa.

froDaNy the plant doing most to
revolutionize agriculture in the CEN
trail west Is alfalfa, and in his latest
publication, Forage and Folders"
Secretary #. ID. Coburn of the Kansas
department Of agriculture, presents an
article on this subject. The author Ia
Prof. Geo. L. Clothier, a most careful
student of alfalfa, and for many years
identified with the Kansas Agricul.
tural College. He and the general in
terest in alfalfa have grown UP to-
gether, and as Kansas has been and ia
the great alfalfa experiment station
Of the world, recital OF his observa-
tions and experiences should prove OF
inestimable value to all in any wise
interested in this wonderful plant. An
excerpt from the article is presented
herewith:
The preparation Of the soil should
rightly begin two or three years before
the time Of seeding alfalfa. II the
land Is so weedy that 1t cannot be
cleaned by cultivation, 1t should be
fallowed for one season prior to the
seeding. II 1t is desirable to subsoil
the land, this should be done a year
before seeding, to depth of Is to 20
inches, and may be followed either by
fallow or cultivated crop. Time
enough should intervene between the
subsoiling and the seeding to allow
the soil to settle, and to store boun-
tiful supply Of moisture.
The seed-bed should be as fine as an
onion-bed, and the subsurface be
rather firm and we'll supplied with
moisture. II the soil is deficient in
humus, liberal spreading of barnyard
manure plowed under at the time OF
subsoiling will add greatly to its
physical condition, and thus help to
start the young plants. If the soil Ia
very sandy. the manure will be OF
great value in preventing the sand
from blowing and in conserving
moisture. A very sandy soil is not
benefited by deep blowing or subsoil-
ing. If the soil is heavy, and it Is
not practical to subsoil, 1t should ba
plowed to depth Of eight or ten
inches several months prior to seed
ing. If the land is allowed to lie fall
low after this treatment, or has been
fall-plowed, it should be thoroughly
disked every three weeks during the
summer or autumn. as the case may
be, to keep dust mulch on the sur
face and prevent evaporation.
The time Of seeding is of great I'M
portance. This should be determined
more by the absence Of unfavorahle
conditions than by the season. Alfalfa
has been successfully sown in Kansas
in every month from March to Sep
TENDER. Where the ground is NOT
weedy, spring seeding has been prac-
ticed with success. The cold rains oil
spring, however, when excessive,
sometimes cause the young plants to
rot off, as would be the case with the
adult plant when submerged for two
or three days.
Alfalfa may be seeded broadcast OF
in drills. 1t is preferable to seed with
drill having a press-wheel attach
ment, because the depth of planting
can be better regulated. The seed
should be covered about one inch in
depth, unless the surface be very dry
when a somewhat greater depth is ad-
missibe. A good method to secure a
better distribution of plants is to SOW
ten pounds OF seed, running the drill
in one direction across the field, and
then cross-drill with the other ten
pounds. II the drill has no grass
seeder attachment, the seed should be
mixed with about three times Its
weight of coarse corn meal. When in
tended for seed crop, alfalfa should
be sown thinly. Thick sowing i'm
proves the quality of the hay; but the
plant has wonderful ability to adapt
itself to either thick or thin seeding
One good, stout, healthy crown has
been known to produce 800 stems al
one cutting. When seeding broadcast
the seed should be covered with light
smoothing harrow or with a'.brusb
drag The majority Of farmers seem
to prefer broadcasting, presumably
because they have less difficulty ID
getting the plants covered shallow
enough than with drill. The ma
jority of grain-drills are not properly
manufactured to admit Of the nicely
Of adjustment necessary in seeding
grass seeds.