The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1908-08-06
The Sowing of Alfalfa.

OF thoee crops Wnlcn Is sure 80 De
used more extensively as our lands
become higher in price. The idea
that 1t can not be grown successfully
In Missouri is largely matter OF
not understanding the requirements
OF the plant. There is little doubt
that the not distant future will see
alfalfa grown to q greater or less ex
tent In each section OF the state. In
the richer sections il will be grown
on the uplands, and In the thinner
sections it will be grown In the fertile
valleys and bottoms.
Experiments which the Agricul
tural Experiment Station has been
conducting with farmers throughout
the state have shown many interest
Ing results and In many cases they
have practically solved the problem
oi getting stand, Briefly summa.
rized the results are as follows:
First, that on uplands OF average
fertility liberal manuring should give
good results 1t is useless to SOW al
falia on poor lands and expect o sat
isiactory yield, but where the soil re-
ceives liberalapplicstion ofmsnure
there Is usually no difficulty In grow
Ing 1t proftably il the land isreason.
ably well drained Since, as a rule,
the average farmer wants only a few
acres OF alfalfa this manuring Is per-
fectly feasible In most cases.
Third, that incubation OF the soil
on uplands Is usually OF much benefit
and is generally necessary to success.
Fourth, that the best time to SOW
alfalfa on most upland soils Is In
August, although on the richer up
lands and the bottom lands spring
sowing may be just as successful
+ Fifth, that on few soils in the state
which have tendency to sourness,
lining will be benefit and may be a
necessity,
Sixth, that top dressing with ma,
nure In the fall and the cultivation
OF the land with disc or spring tooth
harrow afser each cutting II possible,
usually accompanies beneficial re-
turns.
Bril- fly the best method oihandling
alfalfa Is to break the land early In
the summer, blowing under a liberal
dressing OF manure. The land should
be we'll worked down and cultivated
whenever the weeds begin 80 start
until the middle Of August TOR cen.
trail Missouri) when the seed should
be sown. In north Missouri some
what earlier seeding will usually be
better, In south Missouri the seed
may be sown somewhat later. Ex-
periments indicate, however, that
early August seeding even for south
Missouri Is frequently better than
later seeding.
Just before sowing there should be
scattered over the land broadcast,
or drilled in with grain drill, two
or three hundred pounds Of inocls
ted soil. This soil may be taken
from An old alfalfa field, or since
sweet clover, or what is commonly
known as "bee clover" has the same
bacteria on It's roots as alfalfa, sol
taken froir around these plants will
answer. II this is broadcasted II
should be narrowed just as fast as II
lie scattered, since the light kills the
bacteria.
The seed should be OF strong vital
ity and free from obnoxious weeds.
1t should be sown at the rate offrcn
fifteen to twenty pounds per acre
depending upon its quality and tbs
character OF the seed bed. 1t should
either be put In with the seed attach
ment Of the grain drill allowing the
hoes to cover it lightly or, II broad
casted 1t should be sown hall one d.
rection and hall the other, as this
gives more Uniform distribution. II
should be narrowed In lightly, cover
ing the bulk OF the seed from one
fourth to one hall inch deep.
t The seed bed for alfalfa should al
ways be well settled before sowing
and worked down to q fine condition
) on the surface. 1t Is therefore, neve
wise to pillow land late, especial!
where lerke amount OF manure o
green matter is turned under. II lat
! blowing Is necessary, the land SHOULD
be we'll rolled to form q compact sub
a aurfaca aoil and harrovad tn a An