El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-07-22

and no doubt adds sufficiently to the
supply Of nitrogen in the soil to repay
the trouble and cost many times.
Preparing the Seed Bed.
Great stress is usually laid by most
writer's on the Importance of a proper
preparation of the land in order that II
may irrigate evenly and a good seed
bed be secured. Under the favorable
conditions that prevail in this part of
the valley it very frequently happens
that these results can be obtained at
minimum of expense; the slope Of
these lands is so even and regular that
all costly leveling, so heavy an item IN
some localities, may be dispensed with.
beyond the filling of water burroughs
and such small matters. In addition.
the soils are friable, mellow and easily
worked; hence a proper seed bed may
be secured with no more effort than
for planting small grains
To illustrate this. the writer recent
ly prepared some new land Tor an or
a light dragging, was in a very fair
order for planting alfalfa at once.
The securing of a correct seed bed.
often quite a problem On non-irrigable
lands. is simple and easy where Inc
ground Is first irrigated. and then, as
soon as little dry. is disced or har-
rowed ahead of the drill. This OBJ
tains the ideal condition of a firm
moist subsoil, with a dust mulch Of
loose soil say two inches on top to re-
tain moisture, partly firmed yet left
sufficiently loose and open for the
young plants to come up through.
Excess of Water.
Whatever system Of irrigation IS
used, it should be so arranged that no
water stands anywhere on the surface
of the land Alfalfa will stand much
abuse from over irrigation, so long as
the water keeps flowing. but standing
water will be Injurious. sooner or later.
The general inclination seems to be
to plant less seed to the acre than for
merly; from IA to 10 pounds per acre
seems to give an excellent stand and
the benefit of any heavier seeding Is
doubtful. as 1t is possible to have 1t
come up so thick that the yield of hay
is lessened.
1t is usually deemed better to seed
in the spring. If the land Is ready
rather than lose time waiting until
September; It should. however. be put
in in time to be up by the goth of
March, as the later spring sowing is
not so vigorous. The ideal time is
from the 10th to the 10th of September;
less seed may be used, the plants come
up more freely and have markedly
greater vigor. It can be planted almost
any month in the year. except midsum-
mer. but not with the same certainty
of the very best result.
Unless some special condition calls
for 1t, the use of nurse crop is TO be
deprecated; the injury TO the young
plants especially at the time the nurse
crop is removed. far more than ball
ances any gain in hay product that
may seemingly be secured.
Frequent Short Clips.
The care of this crop after planting
is simple and easy; 1t should have just
enough moisture to keep II growing
freely, and, at the point where a few
blossoms appear, or sooner, 1t should
be clipped with a moving machine, set
rather high.
These clippings. made quite regard
less of the amount of hay secured,
though this will likely be considerable,
should be frequently repeated the first
season to thicken the stand and make
the plant stool out freely; this impor-
tant point is often neglected
Care In Winter
Through the winter such crop