The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-09-20
ALFALFA AS A FORAGE CROP.
Press Bulletin of The Pennsylvania EX.
pertinent Station.

] WV 'SPi VI biic W III Itl ~ y ltloS 9.
most satisfactory crop either for
hay Cr for solling. 1t will pro.
duce in Pennsylyauia.threeor four
cuttings during the season which
should Yield from ,! to tons of
hay per acre. AS alfalfa hay is
somewhat richer ii protein than
clover hay lis great value as a fod-
der can readily be understood, 4,
particularly as the various class es
of farm stock relish it quite as
well, If not better than they do
clover hay.
Alfalfa, however, has not proven
an exception to the many new
crops and appliances that have
been extensively commended.
New things are often praised by
enthusiasts far beyond that which
the average good farmer is able to
realize, under what may be called
average conditions. While per.
haps alfalfa has not been doomed
! beyond It's merits where Ter 1t will
thrive well, yet It's cultivation has
been recommended IN an iudis.
eliminating way which has proven
more or less deceptive without
regard to existing conditions.
Sufficient attempts have been
made to cultivate alfalfa to show
that 1T will thrive well on loamy,
gravelly, sandy or even limestone
clay soils of Pennsylvania that
are deep and are well drained.
Fairly compact soils have pro-
duced good crops where the drain
age was sufficiently complete. 1t
is most essential in the cultiva
ti0n of this crop to have the land
well drained. 1t does pest on
deep porous soils that do not have
a tendency to heave. Wherever
clover will heave, the soil may be
said TO be too wet for the success
ful growth of alfalfa On damp
soils it may thrive fairly well du-
ring the summer but will not
stand severe freezing.
On account Of the more album
dant growth OF weeds and grass
in the spring and early summer,
late summer or early fall seeding
is recommended. If the land is
cultivated during the early part
of the season and seeded to alfal-
ia in July or August, ideal condi-
tions, so far as the establishment
Of the young plants is concerned,
will be most nearly approached,
August or Scptem Der seeding
may succeed well, if the soil is fine
and contains sufficient moisture
for termination and for a rapid
growth of the young plant.
A moderate application of com
mercial fertilizers containing phos
phorlc acid and potash has proven
satisfactory in most cases. In
some instances the results have
been very marked. 1t is recon.
mend9d to apply the fertilizer at
the time of sowing the seed. A
hight top dressing of farm manure
after seeding will afford some pl 0
tectlon toyoung plants during the
first winter and is recommended
under ordinary conditions. The
most satisfactory results have
been obtained from sowing the
seed Or, adcast at the rate of 20 TO |
81 pounds per acre. This should |
be narrowed IN well. From eX.
periments made on the Expert
ment Station farm and also IN
Lancaster county, Turkestan al.
falfa has not proven superior or
even as good as common alfalfa.
The application of lime before
seeding to alfalfa has not given
uniform results. In some in
stances the lime has proven bene
fetal but IN other cases negative
results wero obtained and in one
or two Instances decided injury
resulted. In no case in our ex
perience has it been applied to
marked advantage.
Alfalfa should be cut either for
hay or as green forage whenever
it is coming into blossom. Do not
wait until it is in tull bloom. At
this stage the stalks are too woody
to be eaten with relish. Cutting
should not be delayed later than
when the plants are one fourth IN