Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1910-07-15
mAY CROPS
By u. q. Asiatg. Ncmlser "A ashlnEtun
stste OsilcEo EAEerimenG .tnfiuu
staff.

in use arr aifaIfa. orchard grass. tls
fescses. tai o4t grass. ana rel clover
Alfalfa Is placed first la importance a
a hay crop Moreover the growing @,
alfaifa eseu Tor short ume. b.
creases the fertility - the soi upon
which il b. planted.
Orchard grass is recommended a.
a hay crop 90 for pasture ia eonnec.
ton vita alfalfa The sane can b.
said q the feseges 0at grass is rec
ommended as has crop and has giv.
en- general satisfaction under Eastern
v Washington conditions upon fha bill
land a. well as ga medium elsFa.
tons.
Red clover is utiug good sarlsfaC.
ton upon the college farm. Br0dur
Ing yields % excellent quality u BE-
being EToWu upon fhe loser portion
81 the hll slopes there Whether fAt
clover ell continue o. produce sat
isfactofy yields during dryer years
than have hesn experienced for thl
past tao er three seasons remains ta
b. seen. bat 30 b. considered 9 prom
Using has crop
IN growing has crops ~ any SORT
or iu seeding q field far pasture puF
poses there are Two very importan,
things a. ~ considered. 10 the se-
lection Of pure. strong seed. and 81
the proper preparation Of the seed
bed II the seed IS not pure. che far
mer stands chance If introducing
into hiss neIt ob5ee'ionaI weeds. that
Ia some cases sill prove very rouble-
some The planting = s.ed taat has
little g-rminafing power means "a
p1or stand. as aeli a. loss az per
ton % shat does come up. 81 be.ns
toe weak Cd continue CROWNS mere
than e faH weeks
The preparation af fba seed bed
should not b. slighte5 for ue matter
how good tbe seed may b.. ia vlH
not groW unless the ground IS prop
erly prepared.
Vie spring seeding If alfalfa is che
general custom In Eastern WashiuF
ton. In this ease the land should b.
fan plowea fairly deep. The field
should not be narrowed or worked
down. bat left rough through ths
winter IL should BE- narrowed OF
disoed. as conditions indicate. 4s ear
~ in the -spring as possible prepar-
atory 70 seeding. II the soil should b.
very ioosS. which Is not likely 10 hap.
pen. II should b. firmed or compact
I'd by the use u q sub-surface pack
er or other tools. according 30 the
character 81 the soil The seed should
BE- sogn a. early as the season vlIl
permit Too early seeding mas per.
nit damage from frost Too late seed.
ing often allows the Young crop 81
De- injured by dry weather later Sesd.
ing Is done both broadcast and by
drilling. bat the latter is by far tbt
better method. By drilling the seed s..
placed az uniform depth and uul.
form rate 81 seeding Is accomplished
Usually tao or three inches is plenty
deep for alfalfa seed. IL there Is ar
average amount 81 moisture present
and the ground has been prepared
Fall seeding Of alfalfa Is praeriged
Ia many sections and will prove g.
success where there Is sufficient
moisture In the ground al piantina
tine 10 start the plants quickly and
enable them to make sufncien.
zroWfh 10 withstand the winter Pal
zseding should D. done on erouu.
hat has been summerfallowed and
here for any reason the crop has not
been soWu IN the spring Where fall
@eeding IS adopted the seed should BET
put in not later than the early part OF
september the time Of seeding o.
as eoterne8 by the moisture and "a,
soil conditions The other grasses arr
usually soun Ia the spring
Relative % time a. cutting th.
method - curing. and the effect ot
he time ~ harvesting upon TIE feed.
ing value ~ has crops a fev points
should b. noted.
With alfalfa e. Il well 20 allou fbs
hay % become ripe before o. Is cut
Ovsr-ripe alfalfa sheds its leaves Fsrs
easily a. soon as IL Is somewhat dr4
and cures quickly and car scarcely D.
pat into harm without losing 4
large percentage ~ the leaves. ana
these are by far the most faluah..
pan 81 the plant The exact -Ime Is.
cutting sil q course depeuI anrr
the climate conditions ana ta.a s..s.
"a. bar ordinarily q Is nat werf - o..
Tie plants stand after from are-tan.f
- cne-fourtl - The bloom Is ausr
TIE b-ssf farmers cut their sIfalf
carly fH The Hav ana nz n-4s#kfr ..