The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-05-01
ALFALFA--ITS VALUE AS
FEED, AND HOW TO GROW 1T
Extracts From a Paper by Vim. 8. Goodrich Before the Farmers ln.i.
tute at M ovn:e Ia.

This question of restoring fertility to
our soil is of growing Importance, and one
to which we must turn our serious atten-
ton, for it is the keynote Of successful
agriculture. No soil, however rich in a
virgin state. is inexhaustlble. and the
longer its resources are drawn upon with
out compensation the greater will be the
difficulty of restoring it when it finally
refuses to yield an adequate return for its
cultivation.
The fact that alfalfa VIII produce twice
as many tons of hay per acre as ans other
forage plant we can grow here, and that
of greater value per ton. thus enabling us
to Keep more stock on a given amount of
land To help sustain its fertility. added to
ITS power to build up the soil while grow
ing, proves its great vaiue for this pur-
pose. and when we further consider that
at the same time, our live stock returns
US a greater net profit because OF the
~chcapncss and excellence of alfalfa as a
feed, the conclusion is that when its value
IS appreciated and its cu!tiva ton under-
stood, it must become one of our staple
crops.
Any well drained land In Woodbury.
county that will grow fair corn will grow
good alfalfa. The thin soil on our ridges
will yield big crops of 1t If well manured
before sowing, but If the ground is poor
it will be a slow process getting it started.
We have always practiced sowing al
falfa in the spring. The land intended for
alfalfa is planted to corn the previous
year and kept as free from weeds as pos
sible. In the spring all stalks and trash
are removed and the ground leveled, stir
r!ng the soil no more than is necessary
to do this. or to cover the small grain
which we usually SOW for q nurse crop.
The disc drill is an ideal tool for putting
In alfalfa. When his tool Is used is to IS
pounds Of seed to the acre is enough.
. If SOue5 hroa6coct md borrourad jo r
would advise 90 pounds. and if the seed
does not all sprout when tested, add
enough to make up for the poor seed, but
it is more satisfactory to have good seed.
We use either oats or barley for q nurse
crop. When oats are used we SOW one and
one-half to two bushels per acre and cut
them for hay as soon as they are headed.
Last year we sowed five pecks of barley
per acre on rich ground and let 1t ripen,
but it is dangerous to the young alfalfa
as a rule to let the nurse crop ripen. After
the nurse crop is removed we leave all
after-growth for winter protection. As
early as possible In the spring, some day
when the stubble is dry and the ground
moist, we burn it off to get rid Of the
trash.
Alfalfa will yield three and sometimes
four crops a year here. 1t should be cut
as soon as it fairly begins to blossom.
When YOU find by looking at the crown
VI 'he piaii., az Tue ground. tnat the next
growth is starting, 1t Is ready to cut. The
aftermath in the fall should be left for
protection, and stock kept Oft at all times.
Do not take the last crop later than the
middle of September.
1t is easier to make first class alfalfa
hay in all kinds of weather than any other
kind of tame hay we grow here. This
statement may cause some surprise, and
there may be some inclined to dispute it
from their own experience, but I believe
no one who has practiced the right method
will question its truth. I will endeavor to
describe in detail now we have handled it
with uniform success during the past five
seasons, which, I hin you will agree,
have not been without an abundance of
rain during the alfalfa haying season.
We always take the dividing board off
our mower. This is an important point.
! wish to impress on you that 1t is essen