The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-03-25
Idaho Country Life

oOHlc BUILD al uCCpCl anu luOIC IC
tentative of moisture than others an
need less irrigation.
So no hard and fast rule can b.
laid down as to the number of irri
cations per year or as to the tota
amount of water to be applied TO
seed production.
1t should be kept growing, as som,
say, Just above the burning point,
or, in other words, enough moisture
should be applied to keep it GROWN,
steadily, maintain a healthy appear
ance and not fire, but enough tt
allow it to grow luxuriantly, for i
you do the strength will 60 to the hay
production rather than to the see6
! pods.
Generally speaking, heavy irriga
ton should never be applied. In or
der to maintain the soil at the proper
condition it might not be necessary
to irrigate at all on sub-irrigated
ground, while, on the other hand
some soils might require one, some
two, and some in exceptional cases
might require three irrgiations dur
ing the season.
One must study his own individual
soil conditions and irrigate accord
ing to the needs of the plant.
Save First Crop in Twin Falls.
In the lower attitudes of our state,
either the first or second cutting may
be saved for seed, as there does not
seem to be any particular difference
between the amounts of seed each
will produce.
There is generally more hay pro-
duced, however, when the first crop
is cut for hay and the second is left
for seed.
The usual practice where the sec
ond crop is saved for seed is to ir-
rigate the first crop once, medium
early, and let the seed crop come no
Withiut any irrigation whatever.
With soils of average depth this
method has usually been successful
In the section surrounding Twin
Falls and Gooding the seasons are
somewhat shorter than further down
the Snake and it takes about twice as
long to produce seed crop as it does
one of hay, SO it is advised that the
first crop be saved for seed.
If for any reason it is desired to
save the second crop it is recommend
ed that the first crop be cut very
early is that the seed crop will be
fully matured before frost.
Blossom Theories of Fertilization
In order to produce seed, each al
falfa blossom must be fertilized by
the pollen from the same or adjoin-
ing blossoms.
Experiments have proven that this
is greatly assisted by external influ-
ences. Winds, birds, bees and in
sects all assist in this pollenation and
fertilization of the flowers. Bees are
said to assist in this pollenation very
and cause an increase in
the yield of seed.
dependent upon them, for a good
yield of seed is sometimes secured
with almost total absence of bees
rom the field. For this reason many
growers do not have any faith in the
heory.
However, there is yet much to be |
earned regarding the pollenation of |
llfalfa blossoms, but as external |
orces are known to assist, it is be-
ieved that large number of honey |
,ees working the field will material
y increase the yield.
Cut When Pods Are Brown
The seed crop should be cut as soon
IS most of the seed pods have turned
rown. This is best and most econ
done with one of the old
ashioned reapers, though some use
1owers with ,dropper or swather at
achment. a9.s;z.
Some even use the ordinary mower
nd rake and cock the same as for
ay. But this is most wasteful
lethod, for seed at this stage shat
ers very easily and much is wasted
eedlessly.
The reaper deposits the hay in
nall gavels at one side so that the
am will not walk over it as the sue !
seding swath is cut. Fully as much
In be cut as with mower, and the s
wing of seed is considerable.
The lunches from the reaper r
lould be placed one upon top of an 1
her by hand and left to dry for 9
me time. ;
The length of time necessary for i
oper drying before stacking will de- =
md upon the weather, but two :
aeks will usually suffice. After the h
raw is thoroughly dry it should be +
refully loaded upon a wagon and f
.uled to the stack. G
Threshing is better and more eco h
done from the stacks and Il
e seed is much less liable to be q
oiled by wet weather. An alfalfa
Her built especially for the purpose v