Mower County transcript., 1908-02-19
ALFALFA IN 'THEtNoRTH.
Discussion Of the Best Methods Of So.
curing Stand.

Alfalfa for Wisconsin and the pos
sibilities of growing this wonderful
plant in our northern ATTITUDES was
the theme of an interesting and help
full address by Prof r. A. Moore Of
the University of Wisconsin before
the 1908 meeting of the cheesemakers'
association. Prof. Moore believes
that alfalfa, while yet in it's expert
mental stage in Wisconsin, has come
to stay. <': '<5--...:.: ..-l.s g..
A thing most important in the pro-
duction of alfalfa is testing the seed
for termination. In recent years al
falfa seed has tested as low as ten per
cent. terminating quality. Much of
the termination power is ruined in the
way alfalfa seed is occasionally ha1:-
died through heating before being
separated, etc. The remedy for farm
ers is, Of course, to put the seed
through a terminating test before
seeding. The usual process may be
followed taking for example 100 seeds
and placing these on moistened pad
of cotton cloth, a similar pad placed
on the top of these between two
plates, where they may be left at the
proper temperature for few days to
germinate. Then remove the top
plate and pad and count results. If the
seed tests below 80 per cent you may
begin to feel suspicious of it, $
In securing this crop in these north
ern latitudes the farmer should first
learn how, experimenting in a small,
though practical way Put in an acre,
or half acre, to begin with, and then
start in to get conditions right.
Do not seed on low, level valley.
Select a gentle slope. An ideal soil
for alfalfa is a clay loan on top of
gravel. This plant wants soil it.
can penetrate. You, who are at all.
familiar with alfalfa, will remember
that it sends down a taproot occasion
oily 10 to Is feet and more. Where al
falfa will be grown: to advantage in
the near future in Wisconsin is in the:
older subdued soils Of the south cen,
trail counties. Further north in the
state: its, development must ,necessa-.
rily be slower. - g.:..,,.-.g ..t ~,
j Alfalfa is easy on SOIL It is ;.
legume and has the power of taking
nitrogen from the air, most wonder
full and i valuable consideration. In
preparation 'of: the. soil we like o:sow
alfalfa in rotation with other crops.
We like to use thin nurse crop Of
either oats or barley, preferring bar
ley, if this does well on the land Make
a fine seedbed in the spring and SOW
one bushel of oats or barley to the
acre and 20 pounds of good alfalfa
seed. Put in only. one or two acres
at, most at the beginning, and no;
40 acres: We must largely learn
by doing, even though we understand
the principles Of alfalfa growing. It is
often found best to cut this crop the
first year, in order to prevent the
nurse crop from smothering the young
alfalfa plants. Cut the oats the first
year for hay and you may possibly cut
a second crop of alfalfa the same sea-
son.
In harvesting, cut in the morning
after the dew is off the ground and on
fair day. In the afternoon rake into
windrows and cock it up, even if it
appears quite green to the eye: You
will thus save the leaves through ex-
cessive drying off. They will not
crack and become lost favor the
use of hay caps to protect alfalfa from
sun and air. It keeps the plant palata-
BILE to stock. We like, if possible, to
let alfalfa go through the sweating
process in the cock before taking to
the barn .''' ~.. '.'.'.''' So