Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1911-07-21
THE CULTURE
OF ALFALFA

NllalIi IS now universally ack now
ledged as the one plant most useful
to the human race. Corn may be
king in the corn belt, wheat may be
king in the northwest. and cotton
king in the south, but alfalfa promis-
es to be the king of kings. Whether
in the semi-arid regions, or under ir-
rigation, whether under the hot suns
Of the south or on the wind-swept
plains of the northwest, alfalfa seems
to be the one field crop that never
quite fails.
The following exhaustive article on
alfalfa culture, by Professor Butfum,
which appeared recently in the lr-
rigation Age, we are glad to reproduce
for the benefit OF our readers:
Alfalfa is an intensive culture hay.
The plant is worth all the work and
attention given it. 1t responds to
careful, persistent, attention. The
fact that it is easy to grow should not
make the farmer careless. The profit
in any kind Of farming does not lie in
average crops, but in producing more
than average crops.
PREPARATION OF LAND Fol, ALFALFA
Sowing alfalfa in the sod or Oh sod
land seldom results favorably. Al
falfa seed has become scarce and ex-
penslve and should never be wasted
or thrown away ina poor seed bed.
New land should be cultivated in
some other crop at least one year be-
fore it is seeded to alfalfa. The seed
bed should be moist and well packed.
On this account it is advisable to plow
in the fall. Where irrigation is prac-
ticed too much care cannot be given.
The careful leveling and smoothing of
land whicl, is to he seeded to alfalfa
is necessary. The crop Is to remain
OH the soil for from two to ten or
more years, and avoiding future ex-
pense of difficult irrigation will pay
many times over. 1t is well careful.
ly to level the ground and then try it
by giving a flood irrigation before the
seed is planted. If there are holes or
bumps which are hard to irrigate, go
OH again with the Fresno scraper,
land grader or homemade leveler.
Either irrigation or sufficient length
Of time and attention given to conser-
vatiOn of moisture should always be
practised before planting alfalfa seed.
1t is important that there should be
enough moisture in the soil to ger
inmate the seed and give the plants
their first few weeks of growth until
they get eight or ten inches high be-
fore another irrigation becomes ne
cessary.
TIME TO SOW ALFALFA.
Where the seasons are short alfalfa
should be sown AS early III the spring
as the ground can be put in proper
condition and heavy freezing wealth
er is past. The Young plants are not
seriously injured by "A few degrees of
frost. At lower attitudes where the
season is longer alfalfa may be sown
any time up to the middle of August.
AS far north as northern Wyoming
we have succeeded in securing good
stand of alfalfa where it was planted
as late rs the last OF August.
SEEDING ALFALFA FOR HAY
Use drill. Use a drill with press
wheel attachments. DO not SOW
broadcast unless only an acre or so is
planted and a drill cannot be obtain
ed. Plant the seed shallOw-frO
one half inch to two inches deep.
The amount of seed to use will depend
upon circumstances. Ii the seed-bed
is in perfect condition, moist, loose
OH the surface, firm below and warm,
from eight to twelve pounds of good
seed per acre will produce sufficient
stand. Usually the seed-bed is not in
good condition and twenty pounds of
seed per acre is recommended. The
more seed the finer hay, other things
being equal. Some growers. especial
lV in the eastern states nlant 80