Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-09-12
George M. Clark's Alfalfa Field.
THREE THOUSAND POUNDS OF DRY HAY
PER ACRE AT THE FIRST CUTTING.

Here is my first report in growing
alfalfa upon three and half acre, high,
dry, mostly gravel knoll, one hundred
feet above the water line. The field was
first most intensely cultivated to q depth
of six inches or more and made as soft
as that kind of earth can be and as dry
as an ash heap. Then sowed 25 pounds
of alfalfa seed and 800 pounds of fertil-
izer made One-third each of bone, mu-
riate of potash and nitrate of soda to
each acre; then narrowed lightly in four
directions with my smoothing harrow
with the board removed, then rolled 1t.
The work was completed June Sd. On
July 25 l cut the first crop, fifty-two
days from the time Of seeding. The
height at the time of cutting was II to
% inches; the average l6 inches or more.
One-tenth of the plants were in bios
som, which is the rule for cutting
alfalfa. In one corner of the field there
was little purslane and scattered over
the field there was some June grass; |;
otherwise the alfalfa was quite clean.
The first four days after cutting were
clear sunshine; the next four were part
ly cloudy, with some very light rain; the
next four days were bright sunshine:
Twelve days, eight perfect, four not
bad, with four to finish August 5. 1t
was carefully heaped every night.
The result was 10,500 pounds OF dry
hay in barns, 900 pounds to the acre in
fifty-two days.
carted the alfalfa off the field as soon
as possible after cutting, then sowed
half as much more alfalfa seed and har-
rowed it in with my double action cuta-
way harrow in two directions, set at a
light angle. My object in doing this
was to reset it and improve the stand.
Remember, there is no fear of getting on
too much grass seed. have used my
cutaways for resetting alfalfa many
years, all along the west coast and in
the arid region. 1 am now sending a
large carload of double action harrows
to Los Angeles, CAL, to be used in re-
setting alfalfa.
Scientific men say that certain bacteria
are necessary to start q new field OF
alfalfa. They say that they 60 down
into the roots and aid the plant to
gather nitrogen. l think they are cor
rect, UuG udto uOuCs iioN0 oO0o
hunting among the roots for bacteria
month or more; hereafter l shall hunt
for tops and lot the roots take care Of
In this dry weather the
roots are hunting for water, and it looks
as if they were finding it. Six inches
growth in twelve days; timothy stubble
a month old side by side not yet
started.
am just in from the field, the thir-
teenih morning after cutting. TO my
surprise, find some of the alfalfa eight
inches high. Its average height is fully
six inches. Neighbors said l would kill
it, Others said it would turn yellow and
die without bacteria. No grass will die
when it has anything to live for, now
expect quite large second crop before
frost. Will report later and perhaps
add it to my grass circular. BY the
way, if Tribune Farmer readers want to
know how to make money and five tons
of timothy and red top hay to the acre
let them send me two-cent stamp and
will tell them how; but at present l
will not tell them how to make money
in growing alfalfa. must learn the
fact myself first. At present am only
giving methods and results.-George
NJ. Clark in Tribune Farmer.