The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-10-02
LATE sEEOING.
Alfalfa sown In OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
tials of Clover Growing.

Alfalfa SOWn In september
tials of Glover Growing.
Above everything we read or hear
about clover seeding the one point that
seems to stand out very prominently
is that the seed must be sown in spring.
That there are decided exceptions to
this rule has been amply proved on
Elmhurst farm, although at first acci-
dentally, in this way Several years
ago, after picking, we plowed one of
our strawberry beds, intending sowing
it with millet for feeding. We ordered
the millet seed from dealer In town,
which seed was delivered to US and
was sown by one Of the men while
was attending to other matters This
was sown on July 20. When it came
up, which was very quickly, we no
ticed the seed leaves were round In
stead Of oblong, like millet and for a
short time there was much speculation
as to what we had, but soon decided
that we had very well developed
case OF pure alfalfa. As the seed had
only cost 80 cents per bushel (millet
price, we had no cause for complaint.
BY November It had grown to be eight
cen inches high, with one clipping, and
very thick. Some Of the roots were the
size Of q lead pencil The next season
three large cuttings were made, aver
aging thirty inches high and extremely
thick 1t was then plowed under in
October for Strawberries, many OF the
roots at but fifteen months from SOW
ing being over half an inch In diane
ter and thirty inches long. Since that
time we have seeded a number Of
fields during July, August and early
September after strawberries. peas,
ETC., with best results.
One field was An old strawberry bed
sown during the first week In August
with twenty-five pounds Of alfalfa.
four pounds of alsike and five pounds
Of small red clover per acre. The OBJ
ject OF sowing the three kinds was that
we We're somewhat fearful there might
be places where some one of the kinds
might fail for lack Of suitable soil con-
dttions for that particular variety,
while another kind might succeed fine
iy, and such proved to be the case to
limited extent. The land was most care
fully prepared, being thoroughly fined
down with harrows. The seed was
broadcast with a seeder We divided
the seed and sowed the field twice over,
the second sowing at right angles with
the first, thus insurfng perfect distri-
button Of seed. A weeder was used to
cover the seed and the land thoroughly
rolled twice. We believe the ground
cannot be fined and compacted too
much. 1t does not seem 10 do well with
US in loose land. From present indica-
tons we think 1t good way to use all
three varieties of clover, as they seem
to grow well together and make a
greater bulk than If used alone. Alfalfa
In the second crop is now taking the
lead, but the other two are filing up
the bottom. By using this method one
Is quite sure TO have some kind Of clio
yer growing on every inch OF his ploti
at least that Is the way here
One Of the finest blocks Of alfalfa we
ever had was sown in September with
about half bushel of millet seed to the
acre. The millet was intended as
shelter to the alfalfa plants during the
winter. We notice that these plants,
although not clipped, were entirely free
from rust and were much larger and
finer than those sown a full month be-
fore They also came through the win
ter in much better shape
The essentials Of clover growing seem
to be rich. we'll drained soil, well
plowed. carefully fined down Qike an
onion bed is none too good, good seed
and plenty of it, covered lightly and
rolled hard With us a light, spongy
soil is no good. The seed starts well,
but soon dies down, while on heavy,
hard packed land 1t grows like weeds
The land must be free from weeds, as
alfalfa seems to be tender baby on
the start, however lusty IT may be in
after years.-New York Cor. Rural New
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