The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1910-10-19

HOW. TO GROW
ALFALFA CROP
A Few Valuable and Spe-
cific Directions.
EASY JOB IF YOU KNOW HOW
Much Depends Upon the Prep
Much Depends Upon the Prep
aratiOn and incubation
of the Soil.
1T is A HIGH LAND CROP

Editorial Note.-Several farmers
in Ohio and adjoining counties are
trying to raise alfalfa and for their
benefit and the help of those who
may begin the business, the follow
ing intructive article is printed. Ex-
perts at alfalfa raising say that the
main thing, after good soil is select
ed, is to inoculate the ground with
soil from some alfalfa field that has
proven productive. In order to do
this, 1t may be necessary sometimes
to haul dirt from another alfalfa field
several miles away. The Importance
of this is mentioned in the article
below. 1t is also high ground crop
and will not grow on poorly drain
ed lands. It is a deep-rooted growth
in the fullest sense of the word.
There is no reason why 1t should not
be grown in Kentucky. The follow
ing article will be of great benefit
to those interested in the crop.]
AS alfalfa is such a valuable crop
wherever It is grown successfully,
and because so many American far
mers are having trouble in getting
satisfactory yields, the following d.
rections for getting a stand of alfal-
ia may be helpful to those who are
anxious to succeed. During the past
three years l have examined hun
dreds of fields that looked we'll the
first year, but turned yellow early
the second year and never gave sat
isfactory yields. 1T is easy to grow
alfalfa" is the universal testimony
of the farmers who know how to
grow it. If the following directions
are carefully followed, there will be
few failures in any ordinary year:
Manure the ground heavily with
a good quality of manure. Plow In
the fall, and if the soil is heavy,
pillow deep.
On the plowed land SOW ground
limestone at the rate of one thous-
and pounds per acre. The same
amount of air-slaked lime, or the
same amount of land plaster will do
almost as well.
Disk the land as early in the
spring as you can do the work well.
About two weeks later, disk again
and SOW the alfalfa seed at the rate
of twenty pounds per acre.
At the time of sowing the alfalfa
seed, inoculate the field by sowing
soil from an old alfalfa field that
you know is thoroughly inoculated.
Sow the soil at the rate of five hun
dred pounds per acre.
Harrow in the seed and the inocu-
lating soil at the same time with a
peg-tooth harrow. If the land is
very sandy, the alfalfa seed may be
sown shallow with a drill.
1t is best to SOW alfalfa without a
nurse crop. There is no objection,
however, to sowing a half bushel of
wheat or oats with it on heavy land,
providing the grain is cut early for
hay. AS a rule it will be necessary
to clip the alfalfa back two or three
times the first year, as 1t must not
be allowed to go to seed. Do not
clip it back late in the fall, as 1t
needs quite a growth for winter pro-
lection.
1t is not worth while to SOW alfal-
ia on poorly drained soil. and 1t is
not worth while to SOW it If the soil
is not inoculated. I believe alfalfa
can be grown on the heaviest and
also on the lightest land, if the soil
is properly prepared and enriched.