The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-08-10
Cultivation OF Alfalfa.

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considerable amount of confusion as
to how to get the best results from
this important crop. Upon the occa-
sion of Prof. Spillman' recent visit to
this State Commissioner Watson urged
him to prepare special article upon
alfalfa in this State, and the following
article was furnished in compliance
with that request
This valuable crop is adapted to eli
matte conditions in all parts of the
State OF South Carolina. Il is adapt
ed to wide variety of soils, but does
best on rich alluvial soils. It will not
grow on distinctly wet land, though it
will stand considerable overflow. 1t
is very difficult to start on poor, thin
land, and is very subject to destruc-
ton from weeds when the alfalfa is
young aud tender. On good rich land
the best method Of starting alfalfa is
to plough the land broadcast near or
shortly after the middle of summer,
narrowing every half day up to the
plough to prevent the formation of
clods. The plow should run 7 or 8
inches deep unless the land has for
merly been plowed only 3 or / inche
deep, in that case plough an inch
deeper than the land has been plough
ed before. Keep the land we'll har-
rowed SO as to kill the weeds and keep
in moisture until about the first of
September, then SOW alfalfa seed
broadcast at the rate of about 20
pounds per acre and cover it by means
OF drag harrow. If the season is
favorable this will give good stand.
Ii the fall turns out to be exceedingly
dry the stand will fall. In that case
the seeding should be repeated on the
same lard in very early spring.
In uplands that are not in very good
heart it is wise to go to some trouble
in preparing it for alfalfa. a good
course to pursue is to SOW rye in the
fall of the year., When this rye is
heading out next spring, turn il under
good and deep with turning plough,
harrow Immediately, slanting the teeth
of the harrow 80 as not to drag out the
rye. Let the land lie about six weeks
to gRve the rye time to decompose
thoroughly and let the rains wash out
the resulting acids from the soil. It
is good thing to apply about 20
bushels Of lime per acre at this time
if it is available. This lime should be
air-slacked, sown broadcast, and har-
rowed into the surface. After the rye
has had time to rot aud the acids to
be washed out, SOW an carly variety
OF cowpeas such as whippoorwill. Cut
these for hay the latter part Of Au-
gust. After the hay is off, disk the
land very thoroughly and SOW alfalfa
as above indicated. It is very i'm
portant that alfalfa be allowed to go
into winter with a good covering,
which may be secured by leaving q
growth of at least six inches on the
field in the late fall.
The worst trouble that will be met
With in growing alfalfa in South Caro-
lima will be the presence Of weeds, par
ticularly crab grass. The remedy for
weeds other than crab grass is to NOV
frequently tie arst summer. The
moving will not hurt the alfalfa and
it will discourage most kinds Of weeds.
If crab grass appears in the alfalfa
different course must be followed.
Now the field and put q heavy drag
harrow upon it with the teeth act fair
ly straight. In this manner it is pos
sible to harrow the crab grass out, for
it is easily pulled up, while the alfalfa
will be harmed very little, if any.
On good land that is free from
weeds, in favorable season, alfalfa
ought to make four crops Of hay the
first year after fall sowing. The sec.
ond year it will make four crops better
than the first. There is oae ssmall
field of alfalfa in South Carolina sown
sixty-nine yesrs ago on which there is
still moderately good stand, SO that
it would the crop is long Lived.
The alfalfa crop may be made use OF
in three ways with very great advan-
tage. First, it furnishes an abund &
ance Of very valuable green feed Tor
summer. Second, it furnishes a large
amount Of very fine hay, which is SO
rich that even hogs may be wintered
on the dry hay. They will not make
any gain on this,feed. but if given an .
abundance Of it they will not lose
weight. The third use is for hog pas. pa
ture, a god stand Of alfalfa on good