The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1910-03-31

IdUloii lOi Ndlly tONS' Sittl anu bIOOb
sows so well as does alfalfa.
In 1904 alfalfa had been grown in
comparison with red clover and
timothy on the station Farm near
Madison. The yield per acre of hay
was "a tons for alfalfa, 2.5 tons for
clover and 2,3 tons for timothy. AS a
green forage the weight of alfalfa
grown per acre was double that of
clover and three times that of timothy.
The per cent of protein found in the
hay was as follows: 1871 for alfalfa,
1928 for clover and 4.74 for timothy.
In total yield of protein per acre
alfalfa produced three times that of
clover and nine times that of timothy.
The abundant root development of
alfalfa, and the great depth to which
the roots extend when once establish
ed enable the plant to secure food and
moisture several feet below the sur
face.
The success or failure with alfalfa,
|
seed that shows termination test
below eighty per cent should be re-
garded with suspicion. Its vigor is
seriously impaired even though it may
sprout.
Alfalfa is a perennial plant, and
once well established will last num-
| har of yoa,S frnrn fo,,,, =, ta,, on man,
| depending upon the character of the
soil and treatment of the plant in
reference to manuring and methods of
cutting. The mature plant is a vigor-
Gus feeder, its roots often penetrate to
a depth of ten feet or more. Its up
right stems do not sprout on cutting
but die back to the crown, from which
new shoots start Immediately and
grow rapidly. This accounts for the
fact that from three to five cuttings
can be harvested annually.
| Alfalfa is adapted to wide range of
soil provided the subsoil is open and
porous and well supplied with lime.
The most favorable soil however, is a
deep loan, preferably sand in nature
overlying a not too compact subsoiI.
Good drainage is highly essential,
| and on soils overlying heavy clay or
hard pan subsoils, great care must be
taken to provide free escape of sur
| face water. The alfalfa plant will
| 81 "a
days on the surface.
The physical character of the soil,
| especially in reference to its ability to
| retain moisture, has much to do with
the success of the crop,
Deep blowing is essential, and the
subsoil blowing is beneficial, as it breaks
capillarity, retards evaporation, caus-
| ing a greater retention of moisture in
the second and third foot below the
surface where the deep growing
alfalfa roots penetrate. The incOr-
poration of organic matter 10y green
| manuring or otherwise, with liberal
| applications of lime, one or two years
|
the retention of moisture, overcome
possible acidity and prepare the
| ground more thoroughly.
The young alfalfa plant is one of the
weakest among farm crops, it grows
slowly and is easily checked in growth
or killed by weeds, unfavorable con-
| 4 . Of +
ment. The seed bed, therefore, is Of
prime importance, and the greatest
care must be taken to give the young
plants plenty of available plant food
and best soil conditions for the first
year of their growth.
The soil should be thoroughly pre-
pared This is important to secure "A
good stand. For spring planting, it is
| preferable to plow in the fall. If
however, alfalfa is to be planted on
land freshly plowed, the surface should
be frmed with a roller. Then pulyer-
i2e the surface to a depth of three
inches to prevent loss of moisture,
Provided the surface is kept pull
verized the longer the seeding is de-
| layed after plowing the better, many
| failures are due to careless work at
this stage. New fields planted to
| alfalfa frequently require inoculatiOn
Of soil with alfalfa bacteria. Usually
thrifty, dark green plant indicates
that it is well provided with tuberclcs
while a yellow, sickly plant shows a
lack of nitrogen gathering bacteria.
| incubation may be accomplished, lst
| BY application Of from 100 TO 800
pounds or more per acre Of soil taken
| from a well inoculated field, evenly
scattered over the surface soil. 2nd BY
sowing the alfalfa seed and allowing
the resulting crop to stand one year.
The large part of the plants die, but
"A number of vigorous ones, remain
and inoculate the comparatively sterile
soil. When the field is roseeded, the
chances are that a great number Of
| bacteria will be available for the in
oculation of the seed plants. Alfalfa
seed can he sOwn either in spring or
late summer, preferably at the former
time, which is the last week OF April
or the first Of May, in the second
instance from the first to the fifteenth
Of August. The advantage of August
l,, ~