The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-07-08
Some Notes in Regard to
Alfalfa Culture.

| Nildlld CuituTt.
| tBy F. W. Massey, in Practical Farrner)
Among the many valuable reports is
sued by the Kansas State Board Of
| Agriculture one of the most valuable
| is the one issued q year or so ago on
Hay, Pasture and Forage Plants. In
/ this report there are articles or, alfalfa,
from various growers, and from these
We propose TO gather various facts
| which Will serve to answer the many
Inquiries now being made from Eastern
farmers in regard 10 this valuable for
age plant. While alfalfa is not plant
to introduce into q short rotation of
| crops it may be made a very valuable
! and permanent source Of great crops
| Of the finest hay if the alfalfa meadow
! is given the proper attention and the
! fertility Of the soil maintained. It must
/ be remembered that though this IS one
| of the lcgamcs and capable of getting
| nitrogen from the air, it nevertheless
needs to be kept we'll supplied with the
mineral elements Of plant food. Its deep
roofing habit enables it to draw upon
the lower soil not reached r. ordinary
plants, and can thus maintain Itself for
/ many years. But the crop viii be largely
| increased by annual top dressings Of
acid phosphate and potash, and an occa-
sional dressing of lime. In fact lime
| seems TO be one of the essentials to ite
successful growth and the reason for the
successes in the arid regions lies largely
in the fact that the lime has not been
washed down in these soils as it has been
by the heavy rainfall of the eastern part
Of the country. Mr.. G. L. Clothier, of
| MAMMA ttan, Kansas, in the report mon
toned, says that the most desirable soil
for alfalfa is fertile bottom land. we'll
drained and not subject to overflow. Any
soil Wherc water stands the surface
As hours after 4 rain will not do for
alfalfa. 1t Will grow on any good corn
soil and on many soils whore corn Will
not grow soil formed from dec0m-
posed limestone IS an ideal one for al
falfa. It will also grow in a soil almost
pure sand if its root can reach to per-
mancnt moisture and the mineral foods
/ needed are supplied. The difference in
its growth on upland and bottom land
is not entirely due to the superior fer
tility Of the bottom soil but to the fact
that rs roots can there reach to per
manent moisture. While III some parts
of the west the seed has been soWn
among the prairie grass and chopped in
with disk harrow this plan is net ad-
| vised but on the other hand the most
thorough pIowing and preparation Of the
| land is urged. If the SuhsOil is hard
| and needs the loosenng effect of the
suhsoil nloW. this should be done the
year before seeding, and it viii always
pay to su5soil whore the lower soil IS
of a very compact nature. In the red
clay u9isr;i- Of the Southern Atlantic
States this is particularly needed. for III
the experience Ct the writer on such
soils il is difficult for the alfalfa roots
! to penetrate in the hard red clay deep
enough to get away from the influence
Of the summer droughts. In q fairly
porous soil vigorous alfalfa plant 4
month old viii have g tan root fifteen
to eighteen inches long. and the soil
should be in such filth that it VIII be
easy for the roots to renertrate, ana the
surface should be as fine as an onion
bed. N soil deficient in lt,mus q prev
ious OF COW peas plowed under at
maturity will be of great heln. or 4 coat
of barnyard manure plowed under when
subSoiling Will be of assistance i the
carly growth of the plants. Alfalfa
should mover be sown on freshly ploWHd
land. If to be sown in the fall, the ploW-
| ing should be done carly and the land
harroWcd and rolled and compacted TO"
| month or more before sowing time II
| to be sown in tho spring it should be
| plowed ir the fall, and made fine with
the disk narrowed in the spring early
enough to allow Of seeding in the Mid
do States. in April or in the Upper
South in March or late February. IN the
South the best place to SOW the alfalfa
| is on piece Of land that has been We'll
/ cultivated in tobacco during the sum
mcr. After the tobacco is off prepare
tho surface finely with the disk harrow
| September. a good stand had at that
time Will be less troubled by weeds, and
Will be in condition to NOV the following
! summer. On land that has never grown
| alfalfa it would be q good practice to
| get some soil from land who're it has
been grown successfully and scatter
| over tie field to inocuiate the SOL with
| the bacteria which live the alfalfa
| roots. Prof King makes the following
| report IN this regard from Mr.. George
; II. Patch. of Stevens Point. Wis: our
| soil is sandy jack pine land. and badly
| run out of nitrogen and humus. | soWed
| two and 4 half acres to alfalfa. securing
| IN even stand which at first looked
| very promising. After q slow growth,
| it seemed to come almost to a stand
| still with sickly. yellow appearance.
| Before seeding, a strip of perhaps fall
! an acre. was given a liberal dressing OF
| lime. When winter set in the plants had