Churchill standard. (Fallon, Nev) 1903-1908, 1906-02-03
ALFALFA
Communication From Thos.
H. Means; Of Interest to
HomesteaderS.
Carson Sink Is restined to Become
A Great Alfalfa Country.

mi a DDTOu9 6Ab''ii3 ''A' 1Aai7 '''NNN
mt must be modified. If the subsoil
:. ,e,r the surface and is OF such a
nature As to prevent the entrance OF the
alfalfa roots, alfalfa will probably fail;
Int many of the so-called imperyious
snbsoils allow the roots to penetrate.
The effect of the subsoil seems to de
,ond an how it affects drainage and
n,on the texture and fertility of the
snrlace soil. The reports OF successful
alfalfa fields upon subsoils OF gumbo,
hardpan. and stiff clay are two numer-
ops To disregard. Near Syracuse, y.
Y there is an alfalfa field growing
unon A rocky hill where the coating OF
soil is only > tod inches in depth. The
success under such apparently adverse
conditions is due to the fact that the
root is able to penetrate the numerous
yerlice cracks in the rock.
An important condition and one
which is likely to be lacking in many
Of the worn-out eastern soils is fer
dlitv. 1t is very essential that the
soil be in condition usually described
a. fertile. This refers not only to the
presence Of required mineral elements
but to humus and to a favorable texture.
Itis not worth while attempting to
grow alfalfa upon sterile soil Such
soil should be enriched by the addition
,..,.,,t.r., OF tlar fartll
or by the blowing under of leguminous
crops. Compact, cold or wet soil is un-
favorable to the growth OF alfalfa, and
such soil should be drained and thor
oughy aerated by cultivation to re-
duce it to proper texture. Sandy soil Is
usually not well adapted to alfalfa,
party because it may be sterile, lacking
in humus or too loose in texture. liza
stand Is once obtained the crop may
not suffer from lack OF moisture, a.
there is usually a water supply below
the surface In the Southern States
sandy soil Is So favorable to the growth
of crap grass and other weeds that
dIldlld i -91ll tHphcu ouJ. III -tuCl d.
it is well TO prepare sandy soil by in
cooperating humus and fertilizing and
by suitable culture to free from weeds.
1t Is well known that alfalfa, in
common with other legumes has upon
its roots noIules or tubercles produced
by certain bacteria with whose aid the
Oh ,f
atmospheric nitrogen. BY the decay OF
these nodules the soil becomes richer in
nitrogen. Though alfalfa can grow
without the presence Of these bacteria,
especially if the soil is rich and there
Is an abundant supply OF nitrogen; yet
under normal field conditions the
these organisms are present, as indi-
Gated by the nodules upon the roots.
The Seeding plants are injected or
lnOcuated from the soil if the organ
isms are present. Where these are
not already present it is necessary To
moculate the plants artiticially in order
- tA''AtAAN AAC bNHl lNSulNHs AilS Nthii
be done by scattering upon the field
soil from an injected field or by placing
the bacteria directly upon the seed
before sowing. The latter procedure
has been rendered practicable by the
Use OF pure cultures, method per-
iected in the Laboratory of Plant Physi-
ology OF the Bureau OF Plant Industry
oI the department OF Agriculture.
Throughout the region west of the
Mississippi River and considerable
portion of the Eastern States this or
ganism seems to be already widely
spread in the soil. At the Illinois EX-
pertinent Station it has been shown
That the organism upon the roots OF the
sweet or Bokhara clover produces the
same effect upon alfalfa as the alfalfa
organism itself. Since this plant is
widely introduced as weed in most
OF the region east of the Rocky Noun
talns, the chances are good for natural
incubation in many cases. Expert
''' ~ tilS Nol I'll NdIoilnd i1APVli7
inent Station seems to show that the
same organisms occur upon the roots OF
bur clover. Nevertheless the natural
incubation upon the first crop may
not be sufficient for its needs. This ap.
pears to be shown by the fact that
better results are likely to follow sue
cesslve sowings upon the same land.
But in any case it must be borne in
mind that artificial incubation of the
seed will supply only one of the neces-
sary conditions and will not prevent
failure from other causes.
A Farmers Bulletin, No. PA, on
This subject beneficial Bacteria ion