Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-07-15
AN ALFALFA EXPERIMENT.
Farmer Experimenting
With Government Bacteria.

Marshalltown Farmer Experimenting
With Government Bacteria.
An experiment with alfalfa that
we have under way at Sunny Knoll
farm should interest many readers Of
the T-R An acre sown in 1902 did
not give satisfactory results. A good
stand was secured. and it all made a
fine first growth. but did very little at
ter getting six or eight inches high. A
few small patches made remarkable
growth, equal to the claims OF the
alfalfa enthusiasts and sufficient to
warrant further trials; but, as 1T had
mostly died out, the ground was all
plowed this spring, except a little of
the best end that was included in an
enlargement of our lawn. So far as
our observations have gone, sufficient
reason for these variations in growth IS
not yet discovered. Very few nodules
are found on the roots. even where
there is good growth and there are
no more now than during the first
season, the few that are found being
smaller and less vigorous looking than
those on scattering, red, alsike and
white clover plants in the same ground.
1t seems we'll understood that the nitro
flying organisms inhabiting these little
tubercles on the roots Of leguminous
plants are essential to the permanent
health OF the plant, as well as being the
medium by which nitrogen is taken
from the atmosphere. That is clover,
alfalfa, etc, thrive better on soil ster-
ilized of nitrogen, but inoculated with
the proper bacteria than on the most
fertile soil, without the parasites. 1t
seems strange that each variety OF
clover has it's own specific bacteria.
but such appears to be the case, and
to attain the best results. the soil must
be provided with the kind needed. OBJ
yiously, this is matter in which far
mers are not qualified to look out for
themselves. 1t is possible that the
production and distribution OF various
useful soil bacteria may. in few years,
be as common commercial undertake
ing as Is now the manufacture OF but
ter starters" or the ordinary bread
yeasts but there is a great deal OF
study In the laboratory and expert
ments in the field to be worked out
first In this line, the United States
department of agriculture Is doing good
work in harmony with and to some
extent supplemented by the state ex-
pertinent stations, and is practically
our only reliance. 1t is true that sue
cessful inoculations have been made
by sowing soil from fields of healthy
alfalfa: but it is plainly cumber-
some, expensive method and also in
ours the danger of introducing unde-
sirable weeds, insects. etc. Having a
lot OF about one and one-half acres
intended as part of a pigs paradise,
we ordered twenty pounds each OF
Turkesten and common alfalfa, the
former imported from Asia and the
latter Montana grown. These sam
ples were obtained from farm with
a high reputation as specialists in le-
guminous plans and appeared 10 pc
better quality than is ordinarily found.
At the same time a request was sent
to the department of agriculture at
Washington for alfalfa bacteria, and
there was promptly received by mar a
package about five inches square and
half an inch or more thick containing
three packets and printed directions.
According to these. the contents OF
oacket No. Ia white powder--were
dissolved in a gallon of soft water, and
after twenty four hours another pow
der was added from No. 2. In twenty
four hours more a little wad of cotton
from No. 3, supposed to contain the
precious bacteria, was added; and In
still another twenty hours the liquid,
which had now become little cloudy,
was ready for use. OF the two methods
Of incubation given--seed or soil--the
first was preferred and easily accom-
plished by moistening the seed in large
pans and spreading out thinly to dry
over night, when it worked we'll In an
ordinary grass seeder. Sown June 80,
1t was breaking thru the ground July
and is now doing finely, the nela
showing green at a distance or eighty
rods July IL. If the incubation works
this ought to make SHOW field OF al
falfa In sorghum in 1902 1t was accl-
dentally left idle in 1903 and was
piowed this spring when weeds We're
we'll started. Some ten or twelve
workings were given at intervals with
harrows and a roller pulverizer, and
after sowing was lightly narrowed and
rolled, leaving 1t in excellent condition.
1t is an average piece of the second
bottom land in this neighborhood, but
with so we'll balanced a mixture OF
sand and clay loan that its texture Is
nearly perfect. 1t has a porous subsoil
and the city water gravel beds within
about sixteen feet. Its natural fertility
is shown by the fact that 1t is part OF
a field that produced 43 bushels per
acre OF spring wheat, but it's appear
ance seems to indicate comparative
deficiency in organic matter. This Is
all the better for the bacteria test. as
they are said to reach their best de-
velopment only when obliged to work
and If the soil is well supplied with
available nitrates may even lose their
faculty of fixing atmospheric nitrogen.
With that suggestion for the phflo-
sophie moralizer, | will close, hoping
that any other farmers in Marshall
county who are experimenting with al
falfa will communicate with me, SO
that we may arrange to compile results
for a comprehensive report in the
T.-R. or at the next farmers institute.
WILL H. WILSON.
New Phone SAG, two rings.