The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-31
ALFALFAAS grown.
IN OLD VIRGINIA.
(Continued From First pagc.)

NSoHtlHueu FROM tflrSt PaBcD
matter is supplied by blowing undei
cowpeas or crimson clover. cor course
barnyard manure should be used wher
1t can be obtained In sufficient guam.
tities.)
4th. Correct tho acldity of the sol
and produce other conditions required
for alfalfe by applying lime as lib
orally as can be afforded. Everything
considered. ] prefer the unburnt
Underground limestone, though ]
always use the burnt lime. II the
ground limestone is used, am OF the
opinion that at least one ton or more
an acre anomaly for the first four or
five years should be applied, or four
or five tons Al acre the first year.
as one may prefer. "A much larger
amount could be used to advantage
when cost or sane VIII permit 4 have
used both the alrnt limo and the un-
burnt limestone, and can detect no
difference In the result on the grow
ing plant, but where neither were
used, the alfalfa was a failure
5ih. Apply 40 TO 600 pounds an acre
OF pure raw bone meal, or other
equally good fertilizer. / have used
bone meal principally, though / am
making tests of several other kind.
How to Seed the Crop.
9Th See that the seed-bed is made as
nearly perfect as may be with In
tense cutiva ton, and allow no obnox-
ious weeds to mature in 1t. II the
ground Is light and dry, or inclined
to be puffy or II the weather is
not and conditions indicate that II
VIII remain so for some time after
seeding. heavy roller should be
used. as the seed-be should be firm
to retain the moisture.
It'll l seed alfalfa at the rate OF
thirty pounds an acre. though / think
twelve to twenty pounds would be
ample, but 1T is not unusual in the
east TO have heavy rainstorm soon
after the alfalfa begins to grow, and
many OF the plants are washed out.
IL the land were not seeded literally.
such an occurrence would leave very
thin stand. The cost and labor. OF
preparing and treating the soil Is too
great to take any chance OF not Sc
curing good stand for want OF
Few extra pounds OF seed TO the acre.
oth. The best results are obtained
In seeding by the use of the ordinary
sixteen-foot wheelbarrow drill.
eth. incubation Is obtained by SOW
Ing SOIL from an old alfalfa field
broadcast It the rate of from 900 to
400 pounds an acre. and also By
using artificial incubation, as fur
nished BY the Department of Agricul-
ture, at Washington. applied to the
seed before sowing, Either method
might accomplish the desired result
blu, endeavor, as nearly as possibie.
TO eliminate every element of uncer-
ta!nty.
10th. August Is to September 10 is
the best time Tor seeding alfalfa In
virginia. The State OF the weather.
however, Will cause this date to vary
somewhat.
How He Landed In Virginia,
BE II understood Captain f. Jack
Is not Nirginian. In fact he spends
but little time in Virginia He is
California farmer and owns and
operates in that State several mag
alfalfa farms. growing scarcely
anything but alfalfa. In 1886 he came |
20 virginia on visit. and farmer like, |
ne got to investigating the soil and |
'ther conditions. He reached the con-
ciusion that Virginia lands could be |
made TO make as good alfalfa, and as |
much Of {; 10 the acre as those of |
california. and SO he invested largely |
'n the Rappahannock River, and put |
'ar Nmpleman. an expert hay-maker,
charge. At that time alfalfa was |
Utmost unknown in Virginia, and un.
ieaTd Oh except by the farmers who
cad books on farming in general
consumers OF hay knew less about 4,
nan did the farmers. and so the first
ifop cut on Captain Jacks farm was
h1pped TO Western markets, where i
ne people know the superiority of
-itaita over all other hay.
However the Fasteners were quick
Q learn and in 1908, when the yield
vas d HttIe over four tons to the
ere. inc captain had no trouble in
isposlng OF his entire crop at fancy
'rices free on board the Baltimore
teamer at his wharf at Port Con-
gay. He did not give me the figures.
,ut merely said his alfalfa commanded
llat year better prices In Baltimore
no Pniladelphia than the choicest
lmothy. The demand and the prices
ave materially increased since then.
the superior feeding qualities of
Italia has become better known in
,astern markets. Mr.. Zimpleman saws
ne man who feeds his horses and
'ules on alfalfa hay can safely re-
uce their grain rations fifty per
ent.
Alfalfa's Whims and Demands.
It should not be understood from
hat has been said that farmer can 4
elect lands at random-take up an
Id back lot. and with Indifferent at.
sntton, or in any old way attain
uccess. To undertake the cultiva-
on OF alfalfa to any considerable ex-
ant in Virginia one should thoroughly .
Understand the plant, and be able to