Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-03-23
SOME POINTERS ON
THE SEEDING OF
ALFALFA
Interesting Bulletin from New
Mexico Experiment Station
Will Be of Timely Interest TO
the Valley Farmers,

\ bulletin by agronomist w. G.
Hummell, of the New Mexico Expert
ment station at Mesilla park. just is
sued gives some timely pointers to
farmers on the seeding of alfalfa. 1t
says:
Just at this time, when many farm
crs are buying and sowing alfalfa seed,
a repetition of cautions concerning the
quality of seed may not be amiss. If
q good stand is obtained an alfalfa
field continues to produce good crops
FOR years in succession, 1t is certainly
worth while, then, to be especially
careful with regard to this most inn
portant factor in securing maximum
yields-the seed. This is emphasized
by the fact that the majority of al
falfa failures are known to be due to
weeds. the seeds of which are fire.
q~uently sown with the alfalfa.
The most common authorizations of
alfalfa seed are Bur clover, yellow
trcfoil M Sweet clover. Grab grass.
Rib grass and Green and yellow fox
tail are also found. But the worst
weed seed found in alfalfa seed is
dodder. And that this is frequently
found is evident from the fact that
in 1907 about onc-half of the '399 al
falfa seed samples examined by the
L. S. Agricultural department con
tanned dodder. Samples of seed should
he tested as to purity before buying.
and also to determine vitality. These
tests viii be made at the territorial
Experiment station free of charge. as
far as facilities will permit. provided
Il ~two-ounce sample is Sent in, with
name of seller. price. and If possible.
year m place of growth as well as
any guarantee or claim of grade made
for the seed. The United States De
nartmcnt OF Agricultural has a partic-
ularly well equipped laboratory for
seed testing aud will also do the work
under these conditions. Eight to ten
days time should be allowed for test
ing at the experiment station. A
simple home test for termination is
that Of placing one hundred seeds on
n moist piece of blotter on a plate.
Lay another moist blotter over the
seeds and place a piece of glass over
the plate. At the end of a week count
The seeds that has sprouted. which
should be SIS TO 95 per cent.
Alfalfa seed resemble those of red
clover in size, but differ in not being
50 uniform in shape. The color should
be light olive green or greenish yell
low. Darkcncd. diseolorod. and
SHIlNclitu SEED SllOulu DC ulStdIufu, as
It's terminating powcr is low. Plump.
well maturcd seed produce moro
hlants and stronger plants han do
the small and immature.
The Seed Bed.-Since the crop is to
remain in the same place for a num-
Der of years it will pay well to give
careful attention to the preparation
OF the soil. A fine deep seed bed
free from weed seeds, must be pro-
Vided to insure the most successful
termination of seed and growth Of
the young plants. 1t is well to pre-
cede alfalfa with some cultivated crop |
which has been kept clean n free
from weeds. The ground should be
IN as nearly. n. perfect physical con-
dition as possible, and should prefer
ably have been plowed for at least
two years. A liberal dressing of sta
bic manure plowed under for humus
at the time of growing the preceding
crop will be found advantageous, the
harrow following the pillow each day.
rms should not Immediately precede
seeding, however, or the soil surface
viii be too loose and the roots de-
prived of a sufficiently firm footing
The soil should be rather compact,
without Jumps or ,clods. Soils con-
stantly wet or in which there Is too
much aeidity are perhaps the only
ones which absolutely refuse alfalfa.
If alfalfa is sown on alkali soil. the
alkali should first be leached down
by one or two thorough irrigations
before planting. With the excess Of
hlkali kept below five or six feet by
proper irrigation the alfalfa VIII
thrive.
Time of secding.-The middle o.
March is the ordinary time of spring
sowing in the south. The things t.
keep in mind are having the SOIL
right, the weeds disposed of and sow
ing when the weather and moisture
conditions are most favorable.
Amount of Seed and Method OF
Notwithstanding may be lone with a
drill or broadcast. Drilling secures a
more economical distribution and a
more uniform covering OF the seed, in
; edition to a more uniform condition
If soil moisture. The depth of seed
should not exceed one inch. otherwise
he amount of plant foo stored uni
for the Young embryo nav not he slf-
fi'iert to carry the plant above the
If a drill is used. the soil
in fine condition. and the seed of
good quality. fifteen to eightecn
pounds per acre is sufficient. Sowing
more than twenty pounds m some
ti5ios be advisable to counterfeit the
OF poorly prepared soil or 9TH
cr unfayorablc conditions. If sown
broadcast a mechanical should
he used. az the seed is distributed I
more evenly. II sh0nld then be har-
rowed in or covered ~ means Of a
: lank drag.
The practice OF .sov ing a nurse crol
with alfalfa is not 90 rsed. \ heavy q
nurse crop is apt TO smother the al !
'alfa in spots or at least to use soil I
needed by the young alfalfa and a
'o leave it weak and with little root i
growth. Harvesting the nurse crop l. /,
fSuallV attended utf fama-c IL The 4.