The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1911-02-17
ALFALFA GROWING.
Washington Experiment Station at
Pullman Gives Valuable
Instructions


For the guidance of persons desiring
orchard is 25 per cent" said the speak.
ance, former agronomist Of the Wash
ington experiment stations, says:
SIN preparing TO seed alfalfa, it is
usually best to pillow in the fall, leav-
ing the burrows rough over winter, in
order to secure the benefits of wealth
ering, and to permit the settling of the
burrows by the action of the fall and
winter rains. This also encourages the
early termination OF weed seeds, so
that the soil may be partially cleaned
of foul stuff in the spring preparation
of the soil for seeding.
AS soon as the soil is fit to work
in the spring, the surface should be
given light working in order to form
mulch to conserve the moisture and
to smooth the surface of the burrows
to- encourage the termination of weed
seeds that lie near the surface. The
amoant of cultivation must be deter
mined by the condition of the soil, but
should be sufficient to work up a good
mulch of loose earth. Deep cultivation
is not desirable. Up to the first day
of May the land should be given suf-
ficient cultivation to preserve the
mulch, and to prevent weeds from se-
curing too much of start. About the
first of May the final preparation for
seeding should be given.
eff the surface has been well worked
prior to the first of May little more
than single narrowing may be needed,
but the aim should be to secure a well
pulverized seed bed of two or three
inches depth with the bottom of the
furrow left firm. In case of spring
blowing, the firmihs Of the furrow may
be brought about by the use of a roller,
planker or other compacting tool.
"Soils west Of the Cascade noun
tains seem to require incubation for
successful alfalfa production. This is
best accomplished by narrowing in at
the final preparation for seeding, a
| light sprinkling of soil taken from some
old alfalfa field where the crop has
grown successfully. Soils secured from
persons in this region who have sue
ceeded with alfalfa would do admira-
bly, for this purpose.
"In securing seed, be very careful
to purchase seed possessing high vital
ity and free from the seeds of noxious
weeds. 1t is more important to be sure
of these two points than to seed al
| falfa of certain strain. Persons who
are not able to determine the purity
of samples furnished them should send
samples to the botanist Of their state
experiment station, who will examine
free of charge, and report the results
eff good seed is secured, ten pounds
per acre seeded broadcast ON very thor
oughly prepared soil and well narrowed
| in will be ample. The Washington ex
pertinent station has secured better sue
cess by seeding with grain drill, slip
ping the spouts Of the drill off thu
grain box and attaching them to tn,
grass seed box, so that the seed will
be conducted into the shoes of the drill
as in the case of wheat and oats. Set
ting the shoes of the drill to run shal
low will result in the seed being place,
in moist dirt where the greatest mum
ber will germinate, and it will not b
. put in too deep, if the soil has bee
prepared as previously indicated.
"During the first season the alfalf
should not be pastured before it hs
made growth of at least foot, 8
the plant needs an opportunity to d
velop it's root system. If weeds are al
to seed run a mower over the piet
with the cutter bar tilted to cut hig
There is no advantage in clipping bac
the alfalfa if weeds do not become tro
, blesome After the alfalfa has tho
I oughly established itself, it may
8 moved or pastured off. Each spril
Q as soon as the ground is fit to wor
|. it is best to give the soil thorou|
! working with spring tooth harrow al
disc, or some other effective tool. !"