The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1909-07-22


first of April.
METHOD AND AMOUNT OF SEEDING.
The drill is much preferable to the
putting of the seed in broadcast.
Where the ground is thoroughly prepar-
ed, according to the directions, it will
not be found necessary to harrow after
the drill. When put in broadcast the
ground should be narrowed. Twenty
(2o) pounds Of seed to the acre is recon-
mended. 1t is bcst to SOW one half the
seed first, then cross the field sowing
the other half. By so doing the seed
will be more evenly distributed and
this is very important factor as alfalfa
does not spread out and take up all the
ground az does blue grass, for example.
Plants will be produced only on those
spots where the seed is sown, SO if the
seed is sown unevenly there will always
be an uneven stand. The seed should
be put in the ground Immediately after
preparing the seed bed, which must
contain a sufficient supply of moisture
at the time the seed is sown or the
seeds will not terminate properly.
The seed should not be covered deeply;
q half to three fourths of an inch is
sufficient.
WHEN TO CUT FOR HAY.
AS hay, alfalfa has no equal, but it
must be cut and cured at the proper
time. To delay means the hay will be-
come woody and the leaves will shatter
off. The following crop will also be in
jured. 1t should never be allowed to
get into full bloom, but should be cut
when from sne-tenth to one. fourth of
the plants are in bloom. This will
generally be during the second or third
week in June. The best time to NOW
for hay is in the latter part of the
afternoon, then the sun will not wither
up the leaves and Transportation can
take place unimpeded. During the
evening and night the leaves will throw
off the moisture rapidly. Should there
be dew it will soon be lifted by the
morning sun, then the alfalfa may be
tedded for short time. Care must be
taken not to shatter off the leaves.
They are the most valuable part of the
plant. Tedding will not do this until
the moisture content is getting low
1t will not be difficult to determine
when the tedding should cease. 1t will
be found that the hay can be hauled in
much sooner with the use of the tedder,
but it must be used judiciously. By
handling the hay in this manner it may
be cured in from SO to 4S hours under
favorable conditions. Never cut alfalfa
when the dew is on.
DISCING THE ALFALFA FIELDS.
When the alfalfa field is two years
old it should be disced. The disc
should be set but very little, the idea
OF discing being chiefly to split the
crowns of the alfalfa plants that they
may thicken up. Some weeds will also
be destroyed in this process.
ALFALFA BLIGHT.
Blight will sometimes attack alfalfa,
especially in the humid regions when
there has been an excessive amount of
moisture. This will be noted by the
leaves turning yellow ana falling off,
the lower ones being affected first. In
this case the alfalfa should be cut at
once. The next crop will come on
Immediately and will not necessarily be
affected.
ALFALFA FOR HOGS.
There is no other pasture equal to
alfalfa for pasturing hogs. IL keeps
them in healthy, growing conditions
aid furnishes one of the most economical
means of producing pork. One OF the
best ways to begin with alfalfa is to
seed down field intended for hog
pasture. The ground must not be low
and wet for alfalfa will not grow on
wet land. 1t is adapted to almost
every kind of soil, but kills out where
ever water stands near the surface for
any length of time.
Special care should be taken the first
year. There is often tendency to
pasture too closely and especially is
this 80 when piece Of alfalfa is used
for pasturing sheep. They relish it
greatly and if turned in, in too great q
number, they will keep the alfalfa SO
closely picked that the plants cannot
make proper root development, and
will be greatly weakened or killed out
entirely.
ALFALFA SEED.
The production of alfalfa seed in the
humid regions has not proved profitable.
The semi arid regions for the west are
better suited for this purpose. Better
results seem to be had from seed OBJ
tanned from the eastern part of Kansas
and Nebraska than from that obtained
from the irrigated district.
Great care should be taken in the
purchase OF seed. Be sure that it is of
good vitality and free from obnoxious
weed seeds, some of which resemble the
|
alfalfa very much.
SOIL INCUBATION.
This is question which has been
much discussed of late years, in such a
way that it has been misleading and no
doubt has been the means of discourag-
ing many who othe, wise would be
growing alfalfa at the present time.
The following, taken from press bulletin
| iasned nv Prof O. r. Curtiss Diractor
of the Iowa Experiment Station. states
very clearly the fallacy of nitrogen
cultures for Iowa farms.
1.-THE farmers of Iowa and other states
with similar soil conditions should
waste no money buying bacteria. Barn
yard manure and thorough tillage are
worth more than all the nitrogen
cultures on the market. Put the soil
in good enough condition to grow
seventy-five bushels of corn per acre,
and the question of cultures will take
care of itself"
| ADVANTAGES OF ALFALFA.