The progressive farmer and the cotton plant., 1905-06-06
EXPERIMENTING WITH ALFALFA.

Farmers Should Not Become Discouraged if Complete
Success is Not Attained the First Year-More
About incubation.
Messrs. Editors Some of the reports that are
coming to me about alfalfa seeded this spr1ng III
dicate failure on the part of the plants to make
the growth expected, while other reports are very
encouraging. 1t will not be at all surprising II
many are disappointed and some make complete
failures with alfalfa this season for the reason
that it is an experimental crop with most OF our
farmers, and they do not know the pecullar1tles
and requirements of the plant nor do they know
that the land upon which they planted 1t is IN
right condition to grow alfalfa successfully
There is a great deal about the crop yet to be
learned and we need not expect to learn 1t all IN
one or two seasons.
Some of the reports coming in state that the
plants small and yellow-looklng, and the VIII
ers want to know what is the trouble, and also
what they shall do TO make the alfalfa grow and
have the rich green color indicative OF thrift
ness.
The small growth and yellow looks Indicate the
lack of bacteria the roots. have some on my
own farm near Godsboro that does not snow
proper incubation Notwithstanding the seed were
treated with inoculating material, The lack OF
proper incubation is, presume, because either
the land or condition of weather Is against the
development of the bacteria. 1t is not enough
that the seed or soil shall be inocuated, but condl
tions must be right for the development OF the
bacteria in the soil we need not exnect saVls-
factory results In my case L think there mas Deeh
too much rain and that has prevented the de-
yelopment of the bacteria. The land, though
ranging from sand to a stiff loan, is retentVe OF
water and probably has acld1ty IN 1t; though II
was heavily lined in the earlv spring. However,
let the cause be whatever it may. the alfalfa is not
doing like / would be glad to have 1t do nave
advised Mr. Davis who is on the place. to clip II
with the mower some three inches above the
ground and allow the clippings to lie on the
ground as a mulch. / shall advise this clipping
PROCESS every two or three weeks until the plants
beoin TO show Improvement which am expect
mo TO follow The clipping will cause the plants
| to branch and become more stocky, ana give 10
| them a stronger root growth.
| In addition to the clipping shall endeaVor TO
| inoculate part of the plat with soil from nv al
| falfa field at Hillsboro, and II nodules 90 not 3
! form on the roots of the remaining plants, Will
ann1v nitro-culture on that as to see 1t there
| is anv difference between soil inoculatlon ano
that from nitro-culture. By carefully hitting the
| small nlants with paddle, or-anythlng that Will
take mn the soil with the Giant and gently shaklna
! tho soil off it will be easy matter to tell
| the nlants are inoculaed. If they are not inocu
| lated the roots will be free from the little no
dulles. while if they are inoculated, there VIII OF
| on the roots from to dozen small noduies
| from the size of pin head up to the size OF
grain of wheat, according TO the quanClty VI " IL
| ocration in the soil. I shall be glad to nave re
| r+ from those who are experimenting as tt
Ebat extent they find these small noddes on tn'
/ roots of their alfalfa
| do NOT want any reader of The Progresslv'
| Former TO think for moment this letter is WITH
-. III blue ink or with any idea of dlscouraglns
80 one in regard to alfalfa but on the contrary
| # is written to prevent any one iron oooos