The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-31
ALFALFA CLUB MEETS.
Letters Are Received From Experts
and Read at Meeting.

An enthusiastic meeting of the
shawnee Alfalfa club was held this
| afternoon at the Commercial club
Two interesting letters were read
from experts on soil incubation.
which was the subject for discussion
at the meeting. The following COM
mun1catlon was received from Bale
p Waggener of Atchison, who has
had wide practical experience:
Il am in receipt of your letter OF
the goth, and former letters relative
meeting of the Shawnee Alfalfa club,
to be held on-July 3rd, at Topeka.
present at that time, much as
should like to, as [ am greatly inter-
ested in the growing of alfalfa.
Relative soil inoculation, would
say | have no doubt but that it is
wise thing to do. In the fall of 1904
I sowed eighty acres of alfalfa, and
1noculateda all of it but about three
acres reserving that for the purpose
of observation, and to compare it
with the growth of the plant that was
inoculated. While the plant all came
up, apparently vigorous, and there
was no difference in the fall, yet in
the spring l noticed that three acres
of it was weak, Sickly growth, while
that adjoining it was vigorous. After
the first cutting. in the spring OF
1900, secured from the agricultural
department at Washington bacteria,
which IS furnished there, and took
particular pains to inoculate the three
acres with that preparation. The re-
suit was almost magical. On account
of the three acres being more per-
fectly and scientifically fnocuIatetl in
the spring of 1905, and the remainder
of the ground in 1909. the growth of
the three acres was more vigorous
than the other, and even to this day
the difference can be discovered
7 used about $50 to 200 pounds of
soil to the acre, and have no doubt
in my own mind that 1t VIII pay for
any one engaged in this business to
inoculate the soil, especially in this
climate OF course alfalfa will in
oculate itself in the course of TWO or
three years, but I believe that the be- |
ginner should use the fnoculated soil. |
However, great care should be used |
to see that the soil mas no obnoxious |
weeds in il.
LAS a substitute for incubation. |
am of the opinion that one crop 81 |
clover or Canada field peas is all |
right, and, where people are not in
cltned to go to the expense of soil in |
oculatfon, I would recommend one !
crop of red clover or one crop of Ca
NADIA field peas preceding the sowing
Of alfalfa
This letter from Joseph E. Wing of |
Merchandising, Ohio, who is CON
s1dered one of the greatest authorities
on the subject In the country, was
listened to with interest by those pres
ent at the meeting:
without incubation than malaria will
attack a man who has not the
germ injected into his veins
by the mosquito. Alfalfa is absolute
ly dependent upon the bacteria for its
existence.
However. not all soils need
incubation. Certain aka
line western soils seem to be naturally
i'm pregnated with these germs Ger
tain alluVial soils in Louisiana where
[ have been working have in them
naturally the alfalfa bacteria How
these got there we do not know
"Other soils in the same neigh
borhood have not the bacteria. and
alfalfa sown on them is a sure failure
soil incubation best performed by]
taking earth from. successful alfalfa
field, sowing it broadcast over the1
new field and Immediately narrowing
it in to keep it from sunlight which
Injuries or kills the bacteria.
Not great amount of earth is
needed. Very good fnoculation has
been had by mixing 100 pounds of
infected and pu1verized earth with
20 pounds of alfalfa seed and sowing
these together narrowing in at once.
Where inoculation can be had by
hauling earth only a short way it may
with advantage be put on more
literally.
: 'TnocuIation takes better and the
bacteria are most vigorous when the
soil has in it abundant carbonate of
ime and also some humus. Thus
soils strongly impregnated with lime
ire called natural alfalfa soils.
Parts of Kansas are lacking in lime
content This seems especially true
IF southeastern Kansas
"JOSEPH f. WING.
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