The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1906-10-02

Reeent Bulletins On Alfalfa.
Within the past few months. four
bulletins have appeared on the SUD
3ect OF alfalfa, two OF them from tnS
Colorado Experiment, station ana Two
from the Kansas Experiment station.
The two from Colorado are Vracticai@
~ concentrations Of the large bule.
tin Of the same section issued severai
years ago and dealing chiefly win
analysis Of tbs plant grown under
different conditions and analyses Oh
the different parts of the plant.
Il was found that alfalfa hay which
had been damaged by rain had lie
original content of protein or mus.
Gle formers" reduced from 49, OF to IL
per cent and its original percentage
Of gummy and starchy material re-
duced from 80 to 80 per cent This
loss in quality Is in addition TO the
mechanical loss, which Is also consid-
cradle. especially when the alfalfa Is
left too long spread on the ground
A crop Of four and one-half tons Of
alfalfa hay was found to remove 5000
pounds of ash, in which were -
pounds Of phosphoric acid. 1915
pounds of potash and zoe pounds OF
line. Each ton Of hay also contained
from 127 to 165 pc unds Of nitrogen.
There was enough plant food con-
tanned in the roots and stubble OF a
luxufiant growth of alfalfa on An
acre to cost $35 80 II bought in the
form Of commercial fertilizers.
OF even more practical interest are
the bulletins from Kansas. tho one
treating Of the growing ofNalfalfa seea
and feeding alfalfa and the other OF
the impurities in alfalfa seed. 1t IL
Interesting to note tnat ono OF the
authors Of the latter bulletin ~
recent graduate of the course IN cnem-
istry and agriculture OF the Alabama
Polytechnic Institute. This Is G. f.
Freeman, who is now assistant bota-
mist Of the Kansas Experiment STATION.
The principal impurities found IN
Kansas alfalfa seed consisted OF NELL
lotus. several species Of docks. narrow
leaved plantain, fox tail grass. yeiIoW
trefoil. and California buf-clover M!
merous illustrations show the amer
ences between these seeds and those
of alfalfa. AS general rule the on
those of yellow trefoil. bur clover, ana
melilotus are too slight to be detect
ed by casual examination; but In gen.
eral terms there is more OF green
fish cast mingled with the l1gnt golo-
en- color Of sound aifalfa seed. How
ever. an excess Of green indicates I'M
maturity of the alfalfa seed. WINE
a brown or very dark color indicates
heated or old or dead seed The seed
Of the various docks are black ana
triangular Narrow leaved plalntam
is q very common adulterant IN seeu
imported from Europe and Is serious
pest The seed are oval and small
A simple termination test Is recon-
mended by which alfalfa seed are
kent for several days between moist
sheets Of blotIing paper. which sheets
may we'll be SCALED before being useo.
AT the end OF the th.rd or SKIN oaS
at least 80 per cent. or better ~ per
cent. of the seed should nave germ
mated.
while the saving Of seed from a.
falfa has proven at Auburn ana on
tontown unpromising or Impractical
alfalfa seed production is an lnpor
tant industry in the drier climate OF
the west. where the s~erage yleio 10
not far from five bushels per &C ..
This Is obtained by permitting wnas
would constitute the second or thlIo
crop to grow until most OF the seeos
have formed, then curing II very care
ling attachment or through a special
fully, and passing 1t through gram
thresher provided with clover hul.
clover huller The larger amount OF
.a~s aimed by the latter machine
--. the.-preference. The authors
80. IDS that II a second growth
.a fore the majority OF the seed
.., ed, or II heavy rains occur
,>t'., - alfalfa is m bloom. or II
ms fall badly. that the ef-
60 produce seed be abandoned
crop cut for hay. Those are
.. conditions that are usually
ed east OF Texas. However.
be said that neer Sherman.
Texas. alfalfa seed .-e successfully
saved and doubtless this could also be
done In Alabama under specially ia
vorable conditions.