The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1908-03-12
ALFALFA IN THE NORTH.
Discussion Of the Best Methods Of Sc
curing a 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
tul 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 its expert
mental stage in Wisconsin, has come
to stay.
A thing most important in the pro-
ductlon 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 har-
died through heating before being
separated, etc. The remedy for farm.
ers is, of course, to put the seed
through 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 a few days to
germinate. Then remove the top
plate and pad and count results. II the
seed tests below 80 per cent you may
begin to feel suspicious OF II.
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 balf 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 10 a clay loan on top OF
gravel. This plant wants a soil II
can penetrate. You, who are at all
familiar with alfalfa, will remember
that II sends down a taproot occasion
oily 10 to 10 feet and more. Where al
falta will be grown to advantage In
the near future In Wisconsin 10 In the
older. subdued soils Of the south cen.
trail counties. Further north In the
state its development must necessa-
rily be slower.
Alfalfa is easy on a soil. Il is a
llegume and has the power OF taking
nitrogen from the air, most wonder
full and valuable consideration. In
preparation OF the soil we like to SOW
alfalfa In rotation with other crops.
We like to use thin nurse crop OF
either oats or barley, preferrlng bar.
ley, II this does well on the land. Make
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 not
40 acres. We must largely learn
by doing, even though we understand
the principles Of alfalfa growing. 1t 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
second crop of alfalfa the same sea
son.
In harvesting, cut in the morninl
after the dew is off the ground and OF
fair day. In the afternoon rake int
windrows and cock It up, even II 4
appears quite green to the eye. Yol
will thus save the leaves through ex
= cessive drying off. They will no
crack and become lost. I favor thu
use of hay caps to protect alfalfa from
sun and air. It keeps the plant palata
BILE to stock. We like, II possible, Il
? let alfalfa go through the sweating
, process In the cock before taking Il
; the barn.