The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1906-06-29

l92 90
Net income. 49,. $50. SiiS 60
Ny Yield of barley would have
been much greater had it not been
so wet that much Of it Wis wasted
Be generous nov and give II above
all place where the subsoH is not
too dense and where 1t contains some
moisture. II the surface soil is poor
in humus and inclined TO be hard
give It heavy coat OF manure and
pillow il under. If this field was in
corn the previous simmer very We'll,
If in clover the year before so much
batter. What alfalfa needs the first
year Is enough humus in the soil lc
make II hold moisture and enough
nitrogen from decaying clover roots
or stable manure TO carry II TO the
place where 1t can draw on the sup
ply in the subso.l and atmosphere.
For this outlay 1t will repay YOU four
fold Look with suspicion ON the
spots where corn and clover never
grow we'll, as they require much The
same food elements.
However, instead of lack Of plant
food the trouble may lie in some
other cause; too much water or TOO
much acid The land should be lhor-
oughly mderdrained. Lime will cure
the acid and permit the alfalfa to
thrive. In heavy clay soil where the
surface water does not soak away
rapidly, freezing and thawlng are al
most sure to throw the roots out
upon the surface. This may be re-
lieved largely by heavy coat OF
manure on these spots and tile drains
at frequent intervals not too deep.
If the field grew many weeds or fox
tai the summer before il should pc
plowed, thereby turning under the
weed seed and corn stubs and making
loose soil TO hold moisture. Disk
ing will suffice if the field is free
from weeds. but this should be done
thoroughly.
Smooth tile surface and pulyerize
well. Thus far ! believe about all
alfalfa growers agree, but as 10
whea and how 10 sow they do not
have studied the matter very care
fully, and for my own sowing
should choose late in April or early
in May, with about one bushel and
one peck Of spring barley as a nurse
crop. Some advocate sowing without
any nurse CROP. but ! find many
failures as a result Of this method
simply because the weeds took thc
place Ct the barley and killed tht
alfalfa. If you are determined &c
sow without nurse crop it Is better
70 wait until July or August to avoit
weeds, but at this time one is likely
70 fail for lack of moisture.
SOW my seed at the time of drill
lag my barley setting the grass seaC
spouts In front Of the hoes or disks
How much 10 sow per acre is mucl
debate. Some say 80 pounds, SOM
say ten pounds One bushel Of alfal
IA seed contains about 100000 IN
dividual seeds. Fiftesn pounds pc
acre would be about so seeds pc
square foot. For good stand l
requires only about IL TO 1G plant
TO begin with and II all the so seed
terminate they will be entirely to'
th.ck and a large portion must b.
smothered out It has also hsei
determined that where 10, IL or ever
four piants per square foot wer'
found the yield was practically III
same, since when thin the plant
stood out more. However, | prefe
ITO SOW about 70 to 10 pounds pei
acre, since a good stand signifies
big profit and poor stand a bl.
Yoss., Ht 'soHiag late III April You &c
the benefit of the snring rains AMI
4 gonf Ddflty Is harvested early n
July and then the alfalfa has q
chance to grow a crop by September