The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-12

Inc following bulletins in regard to alfal-
ia and the possibility Of growing it in Indi-
ana has been issued by the experiment sta
ton of Purdue University:
In localities where IL will thrive, alfalfa
is without doubt one of the very best for
age crops known. 1t probably stands at
the head of the list, both in the amount of
forage produced and feeding value OF the
same. IL Is readily eaten by nearly all
classes of farm animals.
OF the ordinary Indiana crops, alfalfa
most nearly resembles red clover in its
habits and feeding qualities. 1t contains
the largest amount of protein or flesh form
ing material of any of the forage crops. 1t
Is for this reason extremely valuable to
combine with such material as wheat
straw, corn fodder and timothy hay, which
are deficient in protein. AS a practical IL
lustration of the feeding value of alfalfa, 1t
may be stated that a great many work
horses In the falfa-growing sections of
the Southwest received no other feed 1t is
not recommended to feed alfalfa, alone,
however as better results can be secured
by combining it with other foods less rich
in protein. Alfalfa, timothy and corn make
an ideal combination.
Alfalfa is one of the deepest rooted of
cultivated plants This gives il great adj
vantage over surface feeding plants, such
as wheat, it is able to draw on a much
larger body of soil for its food. 1t is for
this reason an excellent soiling crop. the
MISUNDERSTANDING roots enabling the plant
to draw up food material from the subsoil
and store a large amount of 1t in the large
roots and crowns near the surface. The
stubble and roots on an acre of mature al
falfa contain something like $35 worth of
ferulizing material at current market
prices: As soiling crop. however, it has
the distinct advantage of being slow to
start and difficult to pillow up when once
thoroughly established.
Alfalfa will grow almost any good,
rich, well-drained soil, but a rather loose
soil, such as a sandy loan, which will al
low the roots to penetrate readily, is most
desirable. Very fair alfalfa, however, can
be grown on clay.
Alfalfa is more suitable for hay than pas
ture. as it is easily tramped out and will
not stand close cropping. 1t Is even worse
than clover to cause bloat. and should.
especially when green.
AS to fertilizers for alfalfa, the power of
the plant to draw nitrogen from the air
element If the soil is deficient in phos-
phoric acid and potash, these elements
should be applied in the form of CONNER
has any tendency to acidity, lime should be
applied literally, as the plant is particular
ly adapted to alkaline soils well supplied
with lime.
to grow alfalfa in Indiana, some successful,
but more unsuccessful. The results of sew
eral years trial on the Experiment Station
farm at Lafayette have. on the whole. not
been sufficiently successful to justify un-
qualified recommendation for this locality,
although there is at present plat OF some
farm which is making a very good show
If the seed is good and the ground prop
erly prepared. there is usually not much
difficulty i'm getting a stand of alfalfa in
this State, but the crop is sometimes either
killed outright the first winter or "heaved"
out Of the ground by freezing and thawing.
1t also frequently happens in this State that
alfalfa, after growing fairly well for year
or two, will gradually lose its vigor and
cease to be a profitable crop. This is usu-
ally due to exhaustion of the available
nitrogen in the soil caused by the absence
of the bacteria which enable the plant to
take nitrogen directly from the air. II
this is the case, the trouble can be reme-
died by inoculating the soil by sowing one
or two hundred pounds per acre of bacteria
containing soil from an old alfalfa field
1t can also be remedied by fertilizing with
| heterogeneous fertilizers. but this is too ex-
| pensive to be profitable, as alfalfa requires
an extremely large amount of nitrogen in
| its growth. If the bacteria are present,
small rounded tubercles or. knots the size of
grains of wheat, or smaller. will be found
| on the roots, upon digging up the plants
and examining same.
AS alfalfa should be allowed to stand for
| several years to produce profitable re-
| turns no pains should be spared in prepar,
| ing the seed bed. The land selected should
| be as free as possible from weed seed.
| The seed should be sown in the spring.
at the rate of twenty pounds per acre,
| and covered about half an inch deep with
light harrow or otherwise. The seed
1 may be sown with a small amount of oats
| or barley, as nurse CROP but this is UNI
necessary
| Alfalfa is more delicate than clover the
first season, and is liable to be choked
| out by weeds unless they are kept down
| by clipping, which should be done. AS a
| rule, no hay will be secured the first sea-
| son. The second season and thereafter the
| alfalfa should be cut each time when about
one-tenth of the heads are in bloom. In
| Indiana from three to four cuttings may
| be secured if the rainfall is sufficient and
| the season favorable More cuttings can
| be had in the southern than in the north
| ern portion of the State. The hay is cut
| and cured the same as clover, which it re-
| sembles in being spoiled by very little rain.
| 1t should be thoroughly protected from the
| weather.
The fact that alfalfa has such a high
| value forage crop and that 1t has been
| grown successfully in a number of places
| in the State would seem to warrant care
| full trials in its production by a large
| number of farmers ARTHUR GOSS,
| Director Purdue Agricultural Experiment
| Station