The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1906-03-08
ALFALFA.

Are you going 10 SOW q few acre
Of alfalfa this spring? II not. VIII
notE II il the most profitable use t
which the land can be put. Ever
farmer should have at least ten acre
Of alfalfa, and il farming on a larg
scale, thirty or forty acres would b
the proper amount. Alfalfa viii yiel
from four TO six tons Of the most M
I lrlti0us hay that can be raised. /
viii yield double the amount that re,
clover viii, and its feeding qualitie
exceed that Of red clover at least thir
~ per cent Alfalfa Is more easil-
cured than red clover and does no
neat and blacken In the stack. Ever
though the seed be high farmers can
not AFFORD TO delay seeding down Z
few acres TO this valuable grass OIL
mat account. To do without this
premier forage crop is far more ex
pensive than paying the price asked
for the seed.
Those contemplating sowing alfalfa
this spring should pillow the ground
intended for this purpose as soon az
the frost Is out. and pillow II as deeply
as possible. Next the ground should
be narrowed three or four times In
order to pack the soil as closly as
possible and free he surface from
Jumps. The plot should now be let
stand until about May 10, when all
danger Of freezing will have passed.
The plot should then be disked thor.
oughly TO destroy all weeds that NAV
have sprouted and then narrowed sey-
eral times TO make a seed bed that
VIII be firm and mellow. The ground
IL then ready for the seed.
Ii will be found economical In the
end TO SOW not less han wenty
pounds OF seed 10 the acre as ills
amount, If the seed be good, practic.
any lnsures a good stand. The stand
OF alfalfa Ii important, because where
IL Ia thick the ste. grow finer and
make better hay. The yield per acre
Ia always greater when the stand Ia
thick rather than when the stand IL
thin. II by any mishap good stand
is not secured at the outset 1t Is very
practically impossible, to
thicken II afterwards, as the older
plants VIII smother out the young
plants where seed is sown for the pur-
pose OF improving a poor stand.
Young alfalfa must have the SIM
shine or 1t will not thrive. Therefore
II is not advisable to SOW il with anv
nurse crop no matter how thinly the
nurse crop may be sown 1t will be
round necessary to NOW the weeds
and grasses that will grow up with
your young alfalfa at least three times
during the first season, otherwise the
weeds and grasses will smother tbe
Young alfalfa plant. The young alfalfa
plant will not fight its way the first
year against weeds and grasses and
II care be not taken to keep the weeds
and grasses cut down during the first
season good stand of alfalfa cannot
be expected After the first year No
trouble will be experienced because
the alfalfa will start earlier in the
spring than the other weeds and grass.
es. and being a rapid grower. will com.
pletely shade the ground so that tho
DINERS VIII not cause any further
trouble. Alfalfa should never no sou,p
on ground where the water will stand
after heavy rains, rolling ground or
A. least ground sloping sufficiently To
shed water is only fit for alfalfa |
RMS plant can be raised upon The
nils and rough lands that are foo
rough for profitable cultivation. ana
VIII do well, The choice pieces ~
bottom lands that have been reserved
Tor hay can be pIoughed up and mn In
'orn and other feld crops and donhla
ne amount of far better quality nj
nay can he raised ON the hils .aa
snnNh 9atara.s tk.p f' Nth