The Adair County news. [volume] (Columbia, Ky.) 1897-1987, 1905-11-08
Alfalfa ~ Kentucky
HUBERT VR E E L A N D.
J 0 S E P H E. w | N G.

ton OF aclQlCy. "A Sufef lnQlcaClOn
is the gradual disappearance of
red clover and the difficulty ex-
perienced in making it grow.
Lime is the cure of acid soils,
though drainage is often needed
along with lime. 1t may be ap-
piled to a freshly plowed surface
at the rate of from one or two
tons per acre of air slaked or
ground lime, and in some coun-
tries ground limestone is used
with good results.
Lime is not itself a fertilizer,
but it makes the land sweet so
that clovers may. grow and by
their presence bring about enrich
ment of the soil.
Alfalfa is a clover, one of the
best, since it is of very long life
and surprising vigor upon proper
soil.
Kentucky needs the use of
thousands of tons of lime, in con-
nection with manures. Lining
poor soils without manuring may
not bring much benefit since there
may be too little plant food there
even when the soil is sweetened.
The older regions of the world,
where advanced agriculture has
been practiced for centuries, use
great amounts of lime. The writ
er has seen great chalk pits in
England whence had been taken
thousands of tons of chalk "a soft
limestone) to enrich the adjoining
| farms. y
In some parts of Kentucky,
however, where red clover thrives
the land has in it enough lime
and is in no need of sweetening.
We will then consider the next
requirement drainage.
Alfalfa grows through the aid
of the little bacteria that inhabit
it's rootlets.. These bacteria must
have air. Therefore the flooring
Of the earth by complete satura-
ton of water destroys the life of
the bacteria and of the alfalfa it.
self.
If a post-hole dug three feet
deep in the field where it is de-
sired to SOW alfalfa, shows water
standing in it for more than a few
days in the year, that soil needs
understanding before being sown
to alfalfa.
In general, the depth to the
water level should be about forty
feet, If there is greater depth
it is generally the better.
Now we will consider the mat
ter of fertility. Alfalfa feeds
deep in the soil after it gets es-
tablished and it secures a part of
it's nitrogen through the aid of the
bacteria from the air.
Nevertheless it is a gross feed
er upon PHOSPHORUS and potash
and cannot secure these from the
air. Nor will it at first secure all
it's needed nitrogen from the air.
Therefore land destined to be
sown to alfalfa should be rich
when sown. If it is not rich it
should be made rich before the
seed is consigned to it.
Fortunately, much Kentucky
soil, notably that IN the bluegrass
region, is already in PHOSPHORUS.
This fact should lead to parts of
Kentucky becoming as noted for
it's alfalfa as for it's bluegrass.
Next comes the need Of humus
in the soil. Now "humus" is
simply decayed vegetable matter,
and is best supplied through turn
ing under vegetable growths,
such as cow peas, or through the
use of stable manures. Humus
in the soil does several very need
ed things.
First it supplies a direct plant
food through the nitrogen, phos-
phorous and potash that it con-
tains, being especially rich in nit
rogen.
Next, in decaying it forms COM
pounds that attack the locked-up
mineral elements of the soil and