Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1906-09-20

toward the most northern limit or al
falfa growing the seaso may be too
short for the plant to get sufficiently
well started with fall seeding to sur
vive the winter. Spring seeding is still,
on the whole, the more general prac-
tice.
The young alfalfa plant Is one of the
weakest among farm crops, grows
slowly, Is easily checked or killed by
weeds or by unfavorable conditions of
the soil, weather or treatment for some
time after starting from the seed. The
young plantlet, slender and delicate, is
well shown In the cut. When the stems
are cut or grazed of the stalk dies
down to the very base, and new buds
are produced on the upper part or
crown Of the root. The plants do not
reach full growth until the third year.
The crown of each plant by that time
produces a great many stems and
forms a strong tuft OF excellent fodder.
Owing to the smallness of the plants
the first year farmers are sometimes
disappointed at the appearance of the
crop. but IL, when the seed has been
sowed broadcast, one plant can be
saved to every five or six inches the
stand will be thick enough. A large
mount of alfalfa is seeded I'm drills.
Alfalfa seeded In the spring needs
little care after the first season more
than to NOW the weeds a few times
during the summer to prevent the
weeds from seeding and to keep them
from smothering the young alfalfa
plants. 1t Is well to NOW the field
two or three times during the season.
but the growth of weeds and alfalfa
should not be cut too close to the
ground. 1t seems to be true that when
alfalfa has become well established fire.
Quent close cutting benefits the plant
and causes 1t to grow more vigorously
but this Is not true OF the young. ten.
der plants.
Fail seeding is advantageous In or
der to get the start Of the weeds and
gives a comparatively clean crop of
bay. The fall seeded alfalfa needs no
care In the fall. The full growth of
plants and weeds should be left as a
winter covering. The next season the
alfalfa may be regularly cut for hay
and with a good catch will often pro
duce three or four cuttings the irst
year, yielding three or more ton Of
good hay per acre, although on foul
land the hay is apt to be a little weedy
the first season.
The fail seeding has the advantage
OF the spring seeding In that the land
returns q fair crop the first season aft
or sowing, whereas with the spring
seeding the alfalfa is not likely TO
make sufficient growth 10 produce A
profitable crop Of hay the irst season:
also the weeds will usually be 20 abun-
dant az to prevent the use Of the flrst
reasons cuttings for hay even should
the alfalfa make sufficient growth.
snnsr Feed For Cows.
In late May and through much Of
June pastures are flush and grasses
very tender and succulent. The grass
> at times "washy," and hay or other
dry feed II then necessary In the ration
g correct the tendency to rankness In
ne miIk and an inferior butter prod
net Then comes usually a time when
gra@ b In best estate, and the cows
ny need little else. though q small
quantity Of other feed y not amiss IN
Ne manager. Finally arrive the hot
WINGS ana dry pastures, and silage
comes to its own. Some good dairy
men claim that cows never do better
@an when At this period Of the pas
turss he cows arc kept On silage ana
little grazing. One man resorts to par.
nal soiiing. He cuts the best OF the
meadow grass and feeds In the manager
at evening and turns the cows On tie
pasture early IN the morning while IL
= sun dswy and cool. Later In the
season ~ cuts oats and afterward
ereen corn instead Of the "a ana
eeeds both night and morning.