The Savannah morning news., 1903-09-07
Alfalfa n Success ia the MiddI,
South.


South.
There is general interest in Arkansas
and other parts of the South in grow
ing alfalfa and as hay and pasture
plant it is worthy of all this interest.
Western grown seed is better for SOW
ing and more resistant to drought and
freezing than local or Eastern grown.
The root is perennial, and from the
crown passes straight down into the
subsoil to eight feet and beyond, if
not prevented by rocks. Hence the sub
soil must be open or penetrable, we'll
drained, not water soaked, and it must
he fertile, since few inches of fertile
top soil on a poor subsoil would be of
no value to alfalfa. as the roots Mould
| be beneath it. In Arkansas the
branch, creek or river bottoms are the
soils and the subsoil is usually deep
! and as fertile as the top soil.
The time to SOW in Arkansas is Aug.
| Is to Oct. 10. 1t can be sown in spring,
but not as advantageously. When fall
sown, it comes up and makes a good
root and top growth before cold wealth
er. Then in March it begins rapid
growth and attalns considerable hight
and covers the ground before crab
| grass and other weeds start.
The best preparation of soil is to
SOW cowpeas broadcast on soil in
! spring, cut off hay in August. then
with a disk harrow or shallow cult
vator loosen the top two inches of soil
| Thoroughbred deeper than three
| ineheS-smooth with tooth harrow, and
SOW the seed at the rate of twenty
| pounds per acre. Cover with tooth
| harrow and roll the ground then
brush off the surface with a brush
drawn by horses. This is to prevent
rapid drying out of soil after rolling
| Seed covered one or two inches is
about right; the latter if soil is rather
dry or OPEN If the seed are known
TO be all good and the soil is prime,
moist condition. fifteen pounds of seed
is sufficient. If a heavy rain occurs
Immediately after sowing and a hard,
| dry crust forms, this may be broken
with a light tooth harrow, or roller,
even if seed are sprouting. They are
too weak to break through a hard
! crust.
The first summer is the critical time
in the life of alfalfa. Moving must be
done, and done often, without waiting
for blooms to appear. Cut when eight
to ten inches high or oftener if weeds
and grass are growing and alfalfa is
not. Cut at this stage, the growth and
vigor of the plants have not been
checked by efforts to form or make
seed. The sickle bar should be raised
so as not to cut too close to the
ground. Under extra favorably con-
ditions, moving every two weeks may
be necessary Frequent moving checks
the growth of weeds and grass and
causes alfalfa to branch or multiply
new stalks and increase its vigor. and
are essential, especially if growing
slowly. Whenever the plants stop
growing, clipping will be beneficial.
The second year the same precaution
in moving and clipping should be OBJ
served, but after that when we'll es-
tablished and a good root developed. it
is hardy and crab grass and weeds
cease to trouble.
When a few blooms appear over the
field is the proper stage for best hay,
for all stock, except perhaps work an
imalS. In that case little later is
better, but not better for the vigor of
the alfalfa. A little salt aids in pre-
serving the hay If yet little uncured
when stored. Air spaces under the
hay and through it are advantageous.
1 have seen fine ields of alfalfa in
Washington, Mississippi, Hampstead,
Jackson and in Pulaski counties. In
all cases it is highly regarded and
considered essential by every grower
for profitable live stock. Every farmer
who may have branch, creek or river
bottoms, or other soil having suita-
Bile subsoil, should grow a field of al
falfa. Five acres will be enough for
most farms. R. L. Bennett