The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1907-06-03
POINTERS ARE
NOW IN DEMAND
Queries Keep State College Agri-
tural Department Busy
Running Night Shift.

Of the state college agricultural de-
partmant have been running night
shift during the past couple of
weeks, in order to meet their classes
and answer the inquiries concerning
alfalfa culture, the treatment Of
soils, feeds for stock and land cult
walton, which have been received by
the department, from parties resid-
ing in different parts OF the state.
Following are some of tie most in
structive Inquiries that have been
received:
"Springdale. Wash. / write TO
you for information concerning the
proper kind of land for the cultiva-
ton of alfalfa; the value of alfalfa
as food for horses, cattle and hogs;
and | wish to know if irrigation is
necessary for the successful growing
of alfalfa. Will it succeed on swamp
land that is drained by creek,
which runs from three to four fest
below the surface? What is the best
method of seeding? Would there
be any chance of getting pasture by
sowing the seed on newly burnt over
land? Is there such thing as
highland alfalfa" that will do
we'll on land that has to depend on
the rains and snow? Kindly send ME
such reading matter as you may
have on the subject. j. A. w"
Prof. J. E. Elliott advised the cor
respondent that if the water level
of land, which has been drained, is
four or five feet below the surface
of the land, it might quite success
fully produce alfalfa. However, al
falfa would not grow where the
water is nearer than this to the sur
face, as it abhors a wet soil.
Abhors Wet Soil.
Il believe says Prof. Elliott,
that if you had land which was un-
derlaid with gravel, the water COM
ing anywhere from four to six feet
of the surface, you would have bet
ter success. Seeding burnt-over lands
would probably not be successful, as
the soil would likely be too compact
for the roots to find Judgment.
advise You to secure dry land seed, if
possible, although it differs from the
irrigated only in respect to the diff
ferent methods of cultivation. We
have an alfalfa bulletin which is for
distribution among all who may de-
sire it"
Another letter, from Olympia,
runs as follows: will you advise
me what, in your opinion, should be
sown with oats, on Puget sound bot
tom lands, for winter hay for COWS,
giving information with regard to
the amount of seed per acre, and
when to SOW and harvest?
e. R. R."
Sow peas, or spring vetches with
your oats" wrote Prof. Elliott. IF
you use the spring vetches, SOW them
in with your oats, but if field peas
are used, advise that they be seeded
first at depth of about four inches,
and that the oats be sown about a
week later. This will allow the
peas a chance to get through the
ground, and the two will grow to-
gether WITHOUT any danger Of
smothering. Sow about three-fourths
of the usual amount of oats with
about forty pounds of vetch, or one
or two bushels of peas"
"Dry Land Alfalfa
A correspondent f rom Leahy
writes: Il desire some information
about alfalfa The soil of my home
stead is of grayish color in the
fields and on ridges. Is there a dry
land alfalfa? Where might l get the
seed if there is? How much of it
per acre should l SOW, and when?
What would the seed cost me?
wv. T.
Following is copy of the reply he
received from the department of
agriculture:
There is no alfalfa which is dis
tinctly designated as dry land al
falfa.' In using this term, we SIM
ply refer to alfalfa that has been
grown without irrigation until it be-
comes adapted to such conditions,
and. in consequence, has slightly
changed it's habits of growth. Alfal-
ia grown on dry land is considered
better for pasture and hay than that
produced under irrigation, although
the yield cannot be so great You can
obtain seed which has been produced
from alfalfa grown on the high, dry
soil of the Palouse country by writ
ing to Mr.. f. w. bowman. of Pull
mon Won mood mt cow mara n