The Delta independent., 1911-04-21
POINTS ON ALFALFA
GROWING IN COLORADO.
Securing a Stand of Alfalfa-The
Presence of Moisture the Key
to Success.

IL the SuDSO1l is QTy, There huS@ w
irrigation soon after seeding.
2. Sow only on well prepared,
settled seed bed; loose, newly pioweo
soil is hazardous risk, unless the
soil is Immediately settled by heavy
rains or irrigation.
3. Sow alfalfa seed early II mo1s-
ture is available: if not, SOW at the
season when there is the greatest
prospect for moisture from rains or
irrigation.
4. Sow alfalfa seed shallow, not
more than one inch deep. Broad
cast and then narrowing is usually
successful method. if moisture is
present: but a press -shoe-dril seed
ing, about an inch in depth, would
be an ideal method of seeding
broadcast fields for hay production.
5. Sow northern, acclimated
strains of alfalfa. The Arabian and
any of the tropical strains of alfalfa
are not hardy in southern Colorado.
g. Ten to twelve pounds of first
grade seed is plenty to SOW per acre
that will be at least fifty seeds per
square foot, which will be ample if
conditions are right. Thorough pre-
paration is cheaper than twenty to
thirty pounds sown where the con-
ditions are uncertain.
Z. Sow with a nurse crop only
when there is plenty of water for
irrigation. Oats. barley and wheat
are good nurse crops, but should be
sown at least two-thirds of a usual
seeding for grain.
s. Spring seeded nurse crops
should be cut for hay, rather than
left to ripen for grain, as the young
alfalfa will usually suffer for water
before the grain is ripe and the field
cleared and irrigated.
9. On land inclined TO blow, SOW
alfalfa in grain or cane stubble with
out plowing. The stubble checks
the wind and does not rob the plant
for moisture.
10. Irrigate often, and do not fail
to irrigate in late summer and fall,
If you want the best results from
your stand of young alfalfa.
IL. Keep down the weeds. Bet
ter seed alfalfa on clean land, but
cut off with a mower if the weeds
get started. Do not clip alfalfa un-
til the crown buds have developed.
Grasshoppers often injure stand
OF alfalfa by eating off the leaves
ana top before the buds have start
ed a. the surface of the ground.
Early seeding is preferred on this
account.
To secure the highest yields of
alfalfa hay-proper application OF
water is the secret of success
L. Irrigate frequently rather than
by long continued soakings' over
watering excludes air and compacts
the soil.
.. An irrigation in the fall, to
insure soil moisture Ger winter. is
worth two irrigations in the spring
after the soil has been dry all win
ter. If moisture is present over
winter. the alfalfa plant makes root
and bud growth preparatory for next
seasons crop. If the soil is dry.
the plant becomes so dormant that
it will take weeks of time to de-
yelop new buds and root hairs. Win
ter moisture in the soil. with frost
action. also breaks up compacted
soil conditions that will help to
conserve the subsoil moisture and
increase the hay yield.
3. Avoid pasturing alfalfa fields,
especially when wet.
4. Cultivate alfalfa fields early
in the spring, with the alfalfa re
novater. disk. spring-tooth harrow
or any special alfalfa cultivator. for
the following reasons:
| %. To break up compact soil
conditions
(2. To get air into the soil.
which is very essential.
(3. To work leaves and other
organic matter into the soil.
| "a. To break up capillary ac-
ton. thus conserving moisture.
(5). To destroy foxtail sod.
grasshopper eggs. and other pests
B. Do not let ice form over al
falfa fields by winter irrigation for
any length of time.
g. Rowing out the alfalfa hay
field affords a better system of
irrigation than the ordinary flood
Ing method often practiced that SO
often over soaks the field. to the
detriment of the yield of hay.
Z. Cut alfalfa for hay when the
growth checks and the plant puts
out new shoots from the crown
this is usually about the time the
plant Is well started to bloom.
3. In curing alfalfa hay it should
be done In the windrow and cock
rather than in the swath. as the
leaves will shatter II suddenly dried
up In the sun. The undried green
leaf is an important factor in re-
ducing the sap in the stems in the
curing process.
TulLO X. BLiNN,
Alfalfa Specialist.
Colorado Agricultural College. Fort