Morris tribune., 1903-07-18
Alfalfa Hay

! CIOu dC SC. AutnOQVB IaTh lOF III
formation concerning alfalfa and re-
Gently received Bulletin No. 80, which
! gives chemical analysis of the plant
and also the experience of several
farmers who have raisel alfalfa in this
state. The conclusions reached by
1.-The Experiment Station are that some
varieties Of alfalfa can be successfully
raised in this climate and that it is
valuable as stock food and also a
means of fertilizing and resting the
land. Following is an extract from
the bulletin:
The interest which has recently been
mi infested in alfalfa by farmers and
stockmen throughout the state has
! prompted this.work
Much encouragement is being given
the growth of this great forage plant
by the discovery and introduction of
varieties that seem to be hardy in our
climate. Alfalfa has been grown
without difficulty in the region of
Lake Minnetonka, in this state. for
thirty or more years. This variety
has been found TO be perfectly hardy
in that vicinity and no doubt will
thrive throughout the state generally
excepting possibly certain section in
the northern third o. tn. state.
Seeding: The young alfalfa plant is
rather delicate and a week fesder
conseq ueutly the seed bed must be
carefully prepared, with a good sup
bly, of plant food readily available.
The ground should be plowed rather
deeply and the surface be brought in
to fine condition as in the sowing
of clover or other small seeds. From
ten to fifteen pounds should be sown
per acre. preferably without nurse
crop, and as early as possible in the
spring without danger of frost which
may kill the young plants. AS soon
as the first blossoms appear or when
ever the plant shows signs of losing
thriftiness, it should be moved as
this stimulates stronger growth. It |
can usually be cut three times during
the season and after it has become
we'll established it will yield from
three to five tons per acre.
Soil: Alfalfa seems to do best on
sandy loan soils that have good
supply of plant food and are we'll
drained though it has been know to
have grown in a heavy clay soil. 1t
will do we'll on any soil that will
produce wheat Or corn. The field
designed for alfalfa should be selected
with the view of leaving it for several
years. The plant seems to reach it's
prime in four years and can as rule
be left in a field proftably for seven
or eight years. No difficulty is
experienced in g sitting alfalfa out of
field If it is plowed in midsummer
and kept we'll cultivated. II
Harvesting: Alfalfa for hay should
be cut when one third of the blossoms
have appeared, because at this stage
it makes the best quality of forage
1t should be raked up into windows
when somewhat wilted and never
to dry out before being raked
because then it does not cure SO we'll
and most of the leaves will be broken
off in handling. 1t should be handled
80 as to preserve all the leaves since
they are the most valuable part of The
plant. In dry season it can some 81
times be placed in the barn or stack \
the day after cutting but it. will
usually he better plan to allow the
hay to stand in cocks for few days.
Fertilizing value. Because alfalfa 3
nss the power of appropr1ating for <
is use the free nitrogen of the air, it
has high fertilizing value. A crop Z
If alfalfa plowed under adds large
stores of this most valuable plant
God to the soil. The roots, when
lecayed furnish to the soil large 4
amounts of humus which improves it D
or crop production both chemically .
nd physically. The Wyoming
Experiment Station found that when
Italia land was plowed and planted :
o wheat, it produced $8 to SIP more :
alue in wheat per acre than the land :
hat had grown potatoes and grain
efore. Alfalfa land gave SIG worth -
lore potatoes per acre than was
btained from land that had grown
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