Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1911-01-05
ALFALFA GROWING.
Washington Experiment Station at
Pullman Gives Valuable
Tnetrrctinns

Pullman Gives Valuable
Instructions.
For the guidance of persons desiring
orchard is 25 per cent, said the speak
anee, former agronomist of the Wash
ington experiment stations, says;
{" In preparing to seed alfalfa, it is
usually best to plow 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
furrows 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
amount of cultivation must be deter
mined by the condition of the soil, but
should be sufficient to work up 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 Sc
curing too much of a start. About the
first of May the final preparation for
seeding should be given.
elf the surface has been we'll 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
plowing, the firming of the furrow may
be brought about by the use Of roller,
planker or other compacting tool.
Soils west of the Cascade noun
tains seem to require inoculation 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,
Gin 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 a grain drill, slip
ping the spouts of the drill off the
grain box and attaching them to the
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 shall
low will result in the seed being placed
in moist dirt where the greatest mum
Der viii germinate, and it will not be
put in too deep, if the soil has been
prepared as previously indicated.
'During the first season the alfalfa
should not be pastured before it has
made a growth of at least foot, as
the plant needs an opportunity to de-
velop its root system. If weeds are apt
to seed run a mower over the piece
with the cutter bar tilted to cut high.
There is no advantage in clipping back
the alfalfa if weeds do not become trou-
blesome After the alfalfa has thor
oughly established itself, it may be
moved or pastured off. Each spring
as soon as the ground is fit to work,
it is best to give the soil a thorough
working with a spring tooth harrow and
disc, or some other effective tool"