The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1904-04-15
che Farm and Grove.
copyrighted BY N"yal Press Syndicate.
II. E. STOCKBRIDGE, PHI. D., Editor.
q NRNNNN NNANNNN
NEGOTIATING FOR ALFALFA.

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NEGOTIATING FOR ALFALFA.
SO much interest exists rs to the
adaptation of the principle Of soil in
Oculation to the growing of alfalfa
duce the following Re cord of success
full experience. GctC Der is the most
advantageous time Tor seeding, but
spring sowing. if in season 50 that
the May drought does not catch the
very tiny plants, is also entirely
practical. With Us fairly moist
lands should be selected for the trial.
The recent discovery of successful
methods of growing alfalfa will prob
ably lead to the seeding of many
fields to this legume during the pres
ent season. | seeded q field of four
acres last year and met with both
marked success in that portion of
the field where the soil was inocu
lated and failure where there was no
incubation. My field was thorough
Iy prepared and very easy stand
obtained. At the time of seeding !
Sowed about one acre across the field
with soil infected with alfalfa bac-
terra, or, in other words, with soil in
which alfalfa had grown successfuf=
lv, with it's roots and tubercles in
abundance.
| applied about 100 pounds of this
| soil to the acre. The whole field grew
well during tire summer and root tn
bercle were found in abundance six
weeks after seeding, on a small part
of the infected acre where the infec-
ton had been very heavily applied.
| AS the season advanced the Infected
acre began to show more thrift and
at the end of the season was notice
ably larger than the uninfected
parts. Last spring the field present.
| ed on May 10, most convincing
proof Of the absolute necessity OF soil
! incubation. The growth of the al
falfa on the infected acre had exceed
ed our most sangulne expectations.
r. was of a darkgreen color and made
A bic growth. The drainage has car
ried the infection in streaks and spots
to the lower part of the field, all OF
which showed the same luXuriance.
The division line separating a narrow
strip of uninfected land on the up
per side of the field toward which
! there had been no drainage, Is as
distinctly marked as the boundary OF
a field. Portions of the field where
there has been no incubation the al
falfa has been of a pale yellow color
and very much of it so feeble and
stunted that il will soon die out I'M
less assisted. | have procured more
soil with which to inoculate these re-
naming parts of the field.
| would urge those who attempt t6
grow alfalfa to go at it in the right
sure way; do not-take chances
Where one man will succeed without
systematic incubation score of mer
will fail. To depend on the infection
which is in the seed is too hazardous
and too expensive and usually entails
the loss of the land and labor for the
year. a g.,
10 cents per 100 pounds and the
freIpht added. This is enough for al
Incre, | procured both lots of sol
that I used from the Illinois Expert
ment Station. 1t may be procured
from we'll established alfalfa fields
where there is an abundance of roo
tubercles. There is no great noun
tain in the path; just get the infected
soil and sow it broadcast, by hand /
Won like, one handful at throw; SOW
at the time of seeding and harrow
in: the little fellows in the dirt viii
do the rest.-Ralph Allen.
) THE COVER CROP.
Florida orange growers have prett,
GENERALLY adopted the practice of |
SIMMER cover crop for their groves
The chief benefit secured is the pre-
vpntion of the waste of soil ammoni'
Inv fine burning of the organic matte
III the soil through the intense hea
of the sun.
A .legumenous crop; desmodium
or beggar-weed, and the velvet beal
are our best crops for the purpose
f They not only conserve the fertiiit.
=, of the soil by preventing the burning
mentioned, but extract nitrogen iron
the air, and thus actually add to tn
r available supply of plant-food in tn
| soil.
It should be remembered, however
that the nitrogen thus secured is no
onIv useless to the tree unless &C
2 COMMANDED by the mineral plant
foods required to balance the nitro
! gen. Therefore, unless phosphat
End potash sufficient to go with th
= nitrogen, taken from the air, be art
4 fieialiy supplied, there is danger tina
fine praetice of using n leguminou
, cover crop, may actually result !
: damage. Excess of organic ammoni
l tends TO produce unhealthy growth
Q and is one of the chief causes of tn
4 frequent tendency to "die back, "
The natural corrective precautio
is to follow the cover crop by liber'
V application. of the two mineral fc
: tiIizers needed to balance the an
monia.,