The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-06-25

shown to be wider and ever wider,
till to-day one hardly dares to say
what soil it will not grow on, pro-
vided the land is rich enough and is
well drained, and the handling OF
the soil suits the land used.
A BATTLE WITH CRAB GRASS.
The Carpenter specimen referred to
was from field in which last year,
the year OF seeding, crab grass made
q thick mat over the field and the al
falfa seemed to have been wiped out.
The thriftiness of the alfalfa to-day
indicates that the crab grass will
have much to do yet before it proves
it's mastery in this field. We cannot
say how it will be done, but there is
hope that way will be found to keep
a good stand of alfalfa on crab grass
land. The means may be some
special implement for uprooting crab
grass, while cultivating the ground
merely and splitting the crowns of
the alfalfa without doing any injury
to it's long taproot; or the means
may be growing alfalfa with Ber-
muda, in order for the Bermuda, in
which alfalfa will grow, to keep crab
grass in subsection. A mixed hay OF
alfalfa and Bermuda is good; and
there is no reason why farmers of crab
grass land should not take a half OF
a loaf of alfalfa if they cannot get a
whole loaf. Reliance is put on the
hope that some farmer will report
experience that will be guide for
Others on crab grass land This is a
matter that is just as likely to be
solvedon some farm as at some ex-
pertinent station, and we look to our
farmer friends for guide.
SPRING AND FALL SEEDING.
Fall seeding has been very often
recommended in the Gulf States
since it was assumed that alfalfa
would have a stronger root before
crab grass became bad and would
therefore be able better to withstand
that enemy; also fall seeding would
permit reseeding again in spring, if
the first seeding did not make a
stand. But around West Point and
Prairie mostly spring seeding has
been done, though some alfalfa has
been seeded in the fall. May is the
most favored time there.
LAND RENTALS ADVANCED BY
ALFALFA.
In Noxubee County, near Macon,
is another point that is coming to
the front with alfalfa. One noted
Illinois farmer and dairyman bought
a large tract of land there about a
year ago. He is the kind of man that
advances every time he takes step;
and he has just closed deal for the
purchase oil another tract of respect
able size to grow Alfalfa On. One
thing is sure: Ii those now owning
typical Mississippi Prairie land do
not put in alfalfa, farmers from other
sections will just as sure as they can
buy the land Think Of leasing alfal-
ia meadow for $40 per acre, land
that a few years ago could have been
bought for little more than the price
it is now leased for per year. That
has been done, and the lessee was
glad to pay as much and make the
lease again. There comes to mind
the case of a progressive negro in
| Otibbeha county; who lost tenant
because a rent of 81 per acre was
asked. The land was put to alfalfa,
and now could not be rented for Sic
per acre. The land is being made
rather better, instead of poorer, by
growing alfalfa in the place of cotton
too. In spots in the Delta alfalfa is
making start.
ROTATION AND CULTIVATION
Outside of Mississippi there are ex.
perienced alfalfa growers who are
certain that it pays to grow alfalfa
in rotation with other crops, blowing
up the alfalfa after two years. II
costs considerable to buy the seed
and prepare the seed-bed as we'll as
it ought to be prepared; but the
yields got during two years make
much hay Of high value and the lane
is so much improved by the tap-roots
boring through the sub-soil and stor
ing atmospheric nitrogen in the
land, that the net results are very
good. This ought to be of some con
ISOLATION to anybody who may not b
able to keep a stand year after year
The growers of this section have yet
for the most part, to learn that har
rowing or discing alfalfa should b.
done several times a year to keep tn,
crown split up and to keep a sol
mulch to control moisture in th'
soil. There are enough other reasons
but where crab grass is to be feared
there is special reason why sol
mulch should be made several time
a year, say, after each cutting
There will be more moisture in tn
soil to carry the alfalfa on through
the dry period, when the crab gras
has the best opportunity to over
come the crop. Harvesting a crol
of alfalfa nearly looks like getting
something for nothing; but even will
alfalfa there is a point beyond whicl
this something for nothing idea mus
not be carried. The crop must hav
attention enough to keep the plant
vigorous, if either the stand is t.
continue or if large yields are to b
harvested while the stand does COZ
tinue. CHARLES NJ. SCHERER.
) DeWitt's Little Early Risers, the famo I
! little liver pills, sold at Parker Tw