Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1910-10-27
THE GROWING "
... ... OF. ALFALFA
0. 4. THOMPSON OF The EDcERLEY
SuB.EXPERlMENr STATION WRITES
GOOD ARTICLE on ALFALFA

For the past few years, farmers
of the northwest have manifested
great interest in alfalfa growing.
This interest has been brought
about by two factors which are of
vital Importance to the farmer,
scarcity of forage for stock and
the declining fertility of the soil.
Recognizing the great economic
Importance of this peer of forage
crops, the farmers have sought to
supply the deficiency of forage and
ut the same time build up their
worn out soil by trials in growing
alfalfa which have in many in
stances proven a failure.
The many factors which enter
into successful alfalfa growing es-a
pecially in the semi-arid west,
make it imperative that thorough
study of the nature and require
ments of the crop be made before
attempting to grow it. Should
these essential factors be disre-
garded, the attempt to grow al
falfa will prove disappointing and
will result in sure failure.
Conclusions drawn from the best
results in alfalfa growing at the
Edgeley experiment station and
the experience of successful grow
ers of the crop, lead to the follow
ing observations:
Alfalfa will do we'll on nearly all
we'll drained soils, but it thrives
best on rich sandy loan with a
permeable subsoil. The old saying
that alfalfa will not stand wet
feet" !" is very trne as many have
found to their sorrow in attempt
ing to grow it upon wet, soggv
land. Alfalfa will stand some
flooding while the plants are in the
dormant state, but sheets of ice
invariably kill out the crop. Hence
the desirability of making the pro-
per selection of fields intended for
alfalfa.
Land intended for alfalfa grow
ing must be thoroughly prepared
by good, reasonably deep plowing
and narrowing and should be prac-
tically free from weeds. 1t is a
waste of time and money to at
tempt to grow alfalfa upon poor
weedy land as the young plants
are very tender and poor stand
is usually the result. It is an ex-
cellent plan to prepare the land the
year previous to sowing the alfalfa
by growing cultivated crop such
as corn or potatoes, the latter pre-
ferred. Here is where the good
blowing and thorough tillage
should be pract;ced. BY thorough
ly cultivating the land, many of
the weeds are destroyed and q
large amount of moisture is stored
in the soil to be utilized by the
young alfalfa plants. Upon old
land, liberal application of we'll
rotted manure before planting the
cultivated crop will prove very
beneficial in stimulating vigorous
growth while the plants are young.
Before sowing the alfalfa the fol-
lowing spring, the land should be
double disced by tapping half and
then thoroughly narrowed. 1t is
highly important that the soil be
put in the best possible physical
condition before sowing the seed.
Alfalfa should be sown in the
spring after the danger of heavy
frost is past. In the drier sections,
better stands are generally obtained
when medium early seeding is
practiced. Usually better stands
are obtained by sowing the seed
broadcast and lightly narrowing
the ground after sowing. More
seed will be required for broad
casting than when drill is used.
Fifteen to twenty pounds of good
seed is the usual amount of seed