The tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1900-1902, 1902-02-20

EniroR TRfnuSFi
There IL 4 grcat deal Of talk just
now about alfalfa.
The drouth last year proved the
value OF alfalfa M a dry wenthrr
plnnt and muSh more Of IL win ~
sowed the coming Isl than ever
before. There - no danger OF its
being overdune. ~ the muv Of Il
there ~ raised the more OF II Is
wanted. "a II n valuable feed for
horses. COWS, sheep or hogs.
II would not he advisable for
eyeryhad "a SOW an their farms 20
asfaiin. but Il Is Advisable for every
one Who owns a farm Of forty acres
or morn 10 try a few acres OF it as
soon NJ possible.
Almost every farm has a little
patch or corner that could I've pre-
parrd and sowed this spring and
thus prove whether or no the soil Is
adapted to Ia growth.
The amount OF seed TO SOW to the
acre depends somewhat upon the ma
ture % the soil, weed seeds, etc. Fif-
teen pounds 10 the acre Is enough II
well put IN The best plan Is 60 put
Il in with a grain drIll; mix the seed
with corn meal sand or dry soil and
pnt Ia half the amount required.
then Il with the other half,
drilling Il as shallow as possible.
II sown by hand or seeder harrow
lightly but thoroughly after sowing.
There Is no danger OF having the
ground too well prepared before
seeding. hsli a dozen good harrow
linrs viii not hnrt It.
The man who always" raises corn
and does not want 60 Dc bothered
with Anything else had best not try
lac, as II takes some work and more
care to prepare the ground aud setd
and care for It. The ground wants
20 be as fre as possible from weed
seeds. Ground sown TO oats, flax
or millst. early, then plowed and
thoroughly pulverised ~ soon as
THE crop Is of coHld be seeded 20 al
lfalia Ia August or September, or bet
ter. plowed two or thre times du
ring the season. turning the Seedl
under before the seeds are ripe, theI
sowed 70 alfalfa the next spring al
soon as all danger OF frost L. past
Is frost win XIII IL when It has jus
come VI, and has but the two sect
leaves
When the alfalfa has grown 70 tn
|, might Of six or eight inches il shout
be gone over with a moving ma
1 lehine, cutting three OF four inche
thigh and leaving the cut grass an
.weeds on the ground.
The time TO cut alfalfa for hay
! when II begins TO bloom, II allow
+, led 20 ripeu the seed the leaves wi
and the stems are worth abou
, as much for feed as Is hazel brush.
To. cure hay let Il wilt In th
J swHth. then rake into wiad-row
land shock, allowing about tw
-dlys, II the weather Is clear, for II I
: cun.. Then haul to barn or stack
/. small stacks or long narrow rick'
{. Towering with prairie hay or stray
IL shed the rains, as IL viii tai
u water almost like "a sponge,
The best soil for alfalfa Is a dee
, ioam, but Il win grow ON almos
!, any Kind al soli, provided there h
> sub-sOil OF some depth. Solid roc
u uear the surface Is fatal to H. III
lFoots penetrate to IA great dept
lone instance Is reported Of an altail
root going 10 the depth Of ZIG Ice
lit was ON "A bluff and was uncover
by n landslide.
Il Alfalfa Is not suitable for Pastur
" Grazing and tramping while youi
D. kills II, and stock %tramplng on q
crowns when frozen viii Mn H.
y that II is best not to pasture Il
h all. one eau get two good crops
le may from II and one seed crop.
te thnec or four hay crops II the seas'
b o. favorable and IL Is on good II
land,
One seeding win last ten or hfte
lyears. as It's tendency Is TO spnsI
from seed, ripening and falling To
ground. The roots get almost
lIlrge as - mans wrist. Disking I
n c ,sioualiy with the disks set almo
straigbt j. good for IL, as Il l.
d. any meadow, as all meado'
Al sAould be disked every few pears a
BE- gone over with a fresh supply
seed and a sharp slan'ing too
Il. harrow.
A e. A. BIRD