The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1907-03-22
how TO SOW ALFALFA.

Mr. Charles A. Councilman, O
Worthington Valley, one of the mos
successful and enthusiastic growers O
alfalfa in Maryland, gives cores.
pondent the benefit of his experience
in response 10 the following letter:
Glenwood, March 5.
Mr.. G. A. Councilman, Glyndon, Md
Ny Dear Sir-I have read in the
Sun from time to time your articles
about alfalfa and want try some. Will
you please give me your advice as tc
the proper time of seeding-Spring OF
Fall-the best kind OF preparation tc
make and what kind of ground to
select for it?
have two-acre lot near my house
in an apple orchard six years old
which lays comparatively level, that l
would like to set this Spring If you
would advise Spring seeding and think
such piece of ground would be suita-
BILE. Humphrey D. Wolfe.
Il prefer to SOW alfalfa seed about
the lst to the middle of August" said
Mr.. Councilman, "as at this time you
avoid many troublesome weeds that
grow in early summer on well-tilled
land. The young alfalfa plant is as
tender and delicate as young hatch
ed turkey, but when once established
it's as tough as an old gebbler. A
rank growth of weeds will choke out
and kill the young plant. l have had
some fine stands from Spring sowing
and will SOW field of 90 acres the
coming May.
alfalfa will grow on any kind OF
land that is not springy and wet, and
while it loves moisture, it does not
like wet feet. The most desirable
soil is well-drained, rolling field. 1t
yields it's greatest crops in soils form
ed from decomposed limestone or mai |
foundation.
"Do not sow alfalfa in your orchard.
1t is such rank feeder that it will
take up all the plant food and mois-
ture in the soil and will starve your
trees to death.
Gas soon in the Spring as the land
is in condition plow your ground, roll
it and spread broadcast from 80 to
40 bushels of airslacked lime to the
acre. Then harrow down to a fine
seed bed and let it rest and sp,out
what weed seed may be in the ground
A bout the 10th to the middle of Nav
harrow and drill in 500 pounds to the
acre Of 2-S 4 fertilizer. Work the
field down to fine seed bed and SOW
broadcast 500 pounds ofalfalfa bactera
soil. Roll the ground and SOW bsoad-
cast 30 pounds of alfalfa seed the
and cover with light smoothing
harrow or weeder, and let it go.
"If you have favorable weather
when the alfalfa is to weeks old
and comes into bloom, cut and cure
the hay. If, on the other hand, the
season is dry and your alfalfa about
the lst of July begins to show spots
on the leaves and turns a sickly vel
low, do not let this discourage you.
Run your newer over it and let the
clip remain on the ground. In few
days it will start up and show
healty dark green color. II you have
few seasonable rains in July and
A,.n~t lnu can cut the last of August
about one and half tons Of hay to
the acre. Do not cut again during
this season. Let it GO into winter
quarters with good cover and keep all
stock off the field. !
The next year your crop is well
established and will yield to 8 tons
OF hay and give you four cuttings.
You will find the time great benefit
to the plant-in fact, to all the le-
gumes-as it renders the soil more
friable, easier to take moisture and
corrects any acidity of the soil, and
such a condition enables the young
plant to more readily gets its food.
Your alfalfa bacteria soil you get
from an S-year-old alfalfa field. You
simply scrape up the dirt from around
old plants that have plenty of nodules
on their roots.
eff you cannot get the bacteria soil
from an old alfalfa field, you can use
the soil from the Bokhara cloyer-a
rank growing clover which stock will
not eat. You find it growing along
the roads, railroads and vacant lots.
1t has long with blossom and is one
of the rankest of the legume family.
The bacteria of this plant and the
alfalfa plant are the same.
The 9 fertilizer. which mean 2
per cent, nitrogen, 8 per cent. phos-
phoric acid and per cent. potash, you
can buy from any dealers in fertilizers
But it. however, on guaranteed anal.