Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1902-02-19
CARE OF ALFALFA FIELDS.
Bulletin Issued by the New Mexico
Agricultural College,
GOOD ARTICLE FOR FARMERS.

Alfalfa heads the list of forage crops
in New Mexico. 1t froms one of the
principal sources of revenue to the
farmer of this section. Thousands of
tons are shipped annually and it forms
the bulk of the food for stock through
out this region. Other crops are slow
ly but surely giving place to it. The
acreage in some sections is simply
enormous.
So long as present prices rule, alfal-
ia will continue to be the dominant
crop and the acreage may be expected
to increase. The profit in growing al
falfa at present prices, reckoning cost
of production and interest upon the
investment. is such as to draw even
the amateur into somewhat extensive
operations.
These substantial profits, which have
been realized for a number of years.
has. it is believed, led to considerable
ca~relessness and lack of diligence on
the part of the farmer in the care of
alfalfa fields. Alfalfa is grown with
the greatest of ease and even in care
less hands a field not too old returns
fair profits. But the time may be ex-
pected to come when there will be
somewhat sharper competition than is
felt at the present time. The writer
does not wish to give the impression
that the farmer and ranchman will be
driven out of the business, but believes
that more study and care will be de
manded if the present rate of profits is
to continue,
One can hardly pass through a field
without noticing the bare spots n
soddy patches. The alfalfa has been
drowned out or otherwise mishandled.
and the aggressive native grasses
have taken it's place. No n will con-
tend for a moment that these grasses
are equal to alfalfa. They sap the soil
and encroach upon the alfalfa plants.
The bare spots are Objectionable, pop
ulor opinion to the contrary. Very
coarse, woody alfalfa does not bring
so good a price nor find so ready a sale
as fine alfalfa. AS competition in
creases, greater discrimination may be
expected in this line, and the matter
will be forced upon the alfalfa grower
in a way that will command his atten-
ton.
1t is not an extremely difficult mat
ter to prevent the bare spots and the
encroachment of wild grasses. Pre-
ventive measures will largely do away
with this difficulty and prompt atten-
ton may be expected to eradicate the
evils entirely.
Among the preventive means, the fol
lowing may be mentioned:
First, through preparation of the
land before seeding. The land should
be perfectly level and properly Dor
dered so that the water can be easily
controlled.
Second. a perfect seed-bed should be
formed so that the maximum germin-
alton may be reached.
Third. enough seed should be sown
per acre to insure a perfect stand, even
under somewhat adverse circum-
stances, should they appear; also the
nurse crop, if n is used, should be
chosen with discrimination.
Fourth, the time of seeding should
be that which has proven to be best
throughout a long period of time.
Fifth, the irrigation should be car
ried on with care as to season and fire.
uuency on the particular soil to be
handled and the way the water is APP
piled to all portions of the field. AL
falfa is very susceptible to injury from
standing water during hot weather.
and, therefore, the greatest care should
be exercised to prevent water from
standing too long on lowlying portions
of the field.
Sixth. never pasture short, espec-
tally in the winter. Alfalfa has won
derful recuperative powers, but con
tinuous nipping off of the crowns will
damage the plants and eventually de.
crease the yield not a little. Horses
are particularly hard on alfalfa fields
used as winter pastures because they
they are able to crop close and not in
frequently paw loose dirt away from
the plants and bite off the crowns one
fourth or ever one-half inch below the
surface of the ground. 1t is not hard
TO understand that the loss of the bud
or growing point may be detrimental &c
the growth and usefulness of the
plants. causing many to die and re
sulting in pare spots later to be over
grown by obnoxious grasses.
After the damage is done there re
mains no remedy but to pillow up the
field and re-seed. or to disc thoroughly
and to re-seed the bare spots. II thC
field has not deteriorated too much
the latter is much to be preferred.
BY diligence and careful handling
or prompt action closely following any
encroachments upon the life of the
plants. the quality and yield OF alfaiit
may he maintained and the profits rel
atively enhanced.