The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1906-04-15

writer has spent considerable time
in studying the methods of the farm
ers most successful in growing alfalfa
without irrigation and what is said
in this article is based almost en-
tirely upon this study.
Preparation of the soil. = The
ground selected for alfalfa should be
as free as possible from weeds, and
in perfect filth. In all localities where
the rainfall is not sufficient to grow
wheat without summer following
every other year, the land should be
plowed deep in the fall, winter, or
early spring. 1t should be thoroughly
cultivated during the spring and sum-
mer to kill weeds, retain moisture,
and put the soil in good filth. In
such localities the subsoil of new
land is comparatively dry when COM
pared with the subsoil of the same
kind of land that has been farmed for
a number of years. Alfalfa is deep
feeder and requires plenty OF mols-
ture for it's best development. 1t is
very essential. therefore, that land
be selected that has produced a num-
Der of crops, to be sure that there
is plenty of moisture in the subsoil to
carry the young plants through the
first dry summer.
Near the mountains, where the
rainfall is sufficient, the growing OF
a thoroughly cultivated crop OF corn,
potatoes, roots or sugar beets Will
put the land in good condition for
alfalfa. Land that has produced
crop of wheat, oats or barley may be
plowed in the fall, cultivated thor
oughly in the early spring, and the
seed sown with the land in apparent
ly good condition. However, study
of the results of farmers who have
tried the two methods leads to the
conclusion that, even where the rain
fall is plentiful, alfalfa will get a
much better start and begin to give
satisfactory yields much quicker If
cultivated crop of corn, roots, sugar
beets or potatoes is raised to prepare
the soil. If the cultivated crop can
not be grown, it will pay to summer
fallow, the object of either being to
terminate and kill all weed seed in
the surface of the soil, retain mOis-
ture and get the land into good phys
ical condition. Thorough cultivation
is, therefore, essential. In the early
spring, after summer following or
growing the cultivated crop, the land
should be thoroughly cultivated and
put into the best possible filth. Too
much preparation. of the seed bed
can not be given. AS soon as danger
of killing frost is over the soil should
be cultivated again to kill weeds and
the seed sown Immediately.
Sowing the Seed.-Repeated trials
throughout the country have demon
strated that it is waste of time and
seed to SOW alfalfa with nurse crop.
The grain shades the alfalfa too much
and robs it of the moisture necessary
to carry it through the first summer.
Ten to fifteen pounds of good seed
per acre is generally sufficient. 1t is
usually sown broadcast and covered
with a common tooth harrow. Per-
haps the most satisfactory and eco
nomical way to SOW alfalfa seed is
with a common grain drill with a
grass seeder attachment. For this
purpose seeders should be used that
have tubes that carry the seed into
the hoes or beside the discs of the
drill. In the dry localities where
there is little or no danger of crusts
forming on the surface of the soil, the
drill should be set to cover the seed
from 1 IL to 2 inches deep. In moist