The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-12-09

Alfalfa is now recognized as one OF the
most valuable forage crops that can be
grown. exceeding all others in the guam
tity and quality OF the food Farm and
Field" says that the hay is in money
value forty-ive per cent. better than
clover and sixty per cent better than
timothy. Alfalfa can usually be cut three
to six times during the season. and one
of these cuttings frequently yields more
than can be produced from either timothy
or clover during the entire season. ow-
ing 10 its deep root system. alfalfa is a
great resister of drouth and will fire.
Quently be found green when other
grasses have generally been parched and
ruined. River or creek bottom is usually
best for alfalfa but it thrives on va
riety of soils. 4 stratum of tight rock
five, ten or more feet below the surface,
and the water line. and especially not
nearer the surface than five feet. \
stratum Of dry sand is also Objectionable
Alfalfa has done we'll where the water
line was only four feet below the sur
face The roots of alala have great pen
etratng power and under suitable condi-
tions will reach the water line, be It
five ten or more eet below the surface;
and instances are recorded where they
attained a depth of more than fifty feet.
The soil should be thoroughly pulver-
lied to a great depth, preferably sufh-
GENTLY long before seeding to be prop
crly settled by rain or other suitable
mode. If hard pan be present, subsoil
plow should be used. Shallow plowing
or narrowing at short intervals, two or
three inches deep should Immediately
prcccde seeding. Seeding may be done
in September or carly in October. proNid
cd that the sol is in proper condition.
But if the soil is very day it viii prOba-
bly, be best TO defer seeding until the frost
| is out of the ground in early spring. Alf-
alta is very tender when young but can
stand much cold when Older Therefore,
if soWn in the fail. it should be done suf-
! fciently early say about six weeks be
/ fore the usual timc of frost, for the plant
/ to attain q height of six to eight inches
before cold weather sets in. Fall seed
ing for the South and spring seeding for
/ the North is probably best The seed
/ may be sown in drills eighteen to thirty
inches apart, ten pounds Of seed to the
acre and covered from ono half TO one
inch deep, or they may be broadcastcd.
If broadcastcd from fifteen TO twenty
pounds of seed may be used.
quantity of seed to be sown Per acre.
ranging frop ten to thirty pounds. The
larger quantity will however, better
serve to crowd out grass and weeds; but
drilling in connection with cultivation
Will. doubtless, answer a better purpose.
/ Many failures are attributed to crab grass
and weeds that spring UP during the first
| season. Therefore, if there is danger
from this source. it will be best to drill
at least a portion of the crop and cult
vate thoroughly. Some clean cultivated
crop such as corn or COW peas, preferab-
~ the latter should preccde alfalfa.
/ Neither grass nor weeds should be per-
mitted to mature seed. a mower with tho
blades set high should be used the first
season, every two to four weeks. ac-
cording to growth, thus checking and
frequently destroying the weeds (if any
and causing the alfalfa to spread. This
is an important feature and should not
be neglected, even if there be no weeds.
The clipping may be left as a mulch but
| should not be sufficient in quantity to
smother the alfalfa
Prof Headden reports that two sepa-
rate acres Of alfalfa, containing respect
lively 526, 703 and 139, ,392 plants, yielded
practically the same quantity Of hay per
acre-a little over four tons Hence a
small quantity of seed if they catch well
will yield much hay as large guam
tity Alfalfa for hay should be cut soon
after the first blossoms appear. If the
hay, when housed, is damp, from ten TO
fifteen younds of salt per ton can be ad-
vantageously used.
An alfalfa pasture for hogs. after the
first year, pays remarkably we'll. Al
falfa is not suitable for the cold climate
of the extreme north being liable tC
winter kill. But q new variety, the Tus-
kestan, has recently been introduced from
Asia and bids fair to meet the necessary
requirements. An alfalfa plant usually
lasts many years, but requires an occa
sonal breaking with disk harrow, sup
plemented with q proper fertilizer. Al
falfa is a legumc ard like all other
plants of this class, draws the necessary
nitrogen from the air But in order tc
produce a large yield it will generally
be necessary to make a direct applica
tion of the mineral elements of fertility
(phos2horic acid and potash)
Use per acre eco pounds of . fertilizer
containing per cent. available phos-
phoric acid ard . per cent. actual pot
ash. In lieu of the above the following
materials may be mixed and used:
Fer phosphoric acid use 323 pounds acif
phosphate. or 262 pounds, dissolved bone
or 395 pounds bono meal.
For potash use 108 pounds muriate d
potash, sulnhatc Of potash, 103 pounds
or 438 pounds kainit
In the above article have drawn large
ly for data upon work entitled Alfalfa
by f. D. Coburn, Secretary Kansas De
partment OF Agriculture.
BRYAN TYSON
Carthage. " c.