The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1905-02-01
Alfalfa Culture Without Irrigation.
(By Byron Hunter.)

civ and seven tons per acre in
ms season, it has been quite thor
oob1v demonstrated that it is the
U ,"rgest yielding and best paying hay
d. that can be grown on dry up
p i""d in eastern Washington and east
oregon. On such land it does not
reach it's highest development until
aIont the third year, as it requires
aome time for the root system to de-
,'olon sufficiently to take up the re-
ouired moisture for the plant. There
s foro little must be expected the first
roar and only light returns the
second.
preparation of the Soil. = The
oronnd selected should be as free as
noesib1e from weeds, as these are the
yroat enemy of the young alfalfa
liant. Land plowed deep in the spring
and thoroughly cultivated during the
summer makes an excellent seed bed
for alfalfa. With land prepared in
This way and early fall rains, early
fall seeding would probably give very
satisfactory results. At this time,
however, we have very little data re-
garding fall seeding. If the land
selected for the alfalfa field grew a
crop the previous season, pillow it deep
in the fall or early winter as soon
as it is wet enough. Let it lie in
this rough state until in good work
ing condition in the early spring,
when it should be thoroughly pulver-
lied and packed by narrowing, disk
ing, or rolling, according to circum
stances. AS soon as danger of killing
frosts is over cultivate again to kill
any weeds that may have terminated
and to break up any crust that may
have formed on the surface of the
ground and then SOW the seed.
Inoculation.-If it is thought that
the alfalfa bacteria is not already in
the soil, material for inoculating the
seed may be obtained from DR.. Geo.
T. Moore, of the bureau of plant in
dustry, Washington, D. c., by writing
to him and stating the amount OF
seed to be sown and approximately
the data upon which you expect to
do the seeding. 1t is necessary to
give DR.. Moore little time in order
that the inoculating material may
reach you in due season. incubation
may also be made by hauling surface
soil from an old alfalfa field and scat
tering from 300 to 500 pounds per acre
on the surface of the new alfalfa field
just before seeding.
Sowing the Seed.-If sOwn broad
cast, II to Is pounds of seed should
be used per acre. Cover lightly by
narrowing. If drilled, 10 pounds OF
seed will be sufficient. know of
some who use pounds when sown
broadcast. The common grain drill
with grass seeder attachment may be
used in sowing alfalfa seed. Take
the spouts of the seeder off and put
them on again so that they point back
instead of forward. Then loosen the
rubber tubes from the main drill, pull
them forward and attach them to the
spouts of the seeder, by wire or other
wise, so that the seed will drop in
the hoes or beside the discs of the
Qrlll and be covered in the usual way.
IN the dryer localities where the soil
Is light and there is little or no dan
ger OF crusts forming on the surface,
me seed can be covered as deep as
TWO inches In moist localities, how
ever, the seed should be covered
lightly.
treatment the First Year.-If weeds
are troublesome, the field should be