Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1909-1915, 1912-02-02
ALFALFA NEEDS
GOOD SEED BED

UUUU .OlCD@ DID
The comparative smallness 81 alfal-
ia seed and the. persistency Of native
lsod,s suggests the necessity for very
a.eful preparation of the seed bed
lgaefore dry land alfalfa is planted The
practice of seeding this crop on new
breaking has not brought success,
either in getting a good stand the first
year, or profitable yields during sue
i$eeeding years. The land ought to be
IploWed at least twice and should re-
Iceive considerable surface tillage in
addition. # II q. &. ,;s,: 81. FL
For the farmer who. wishes to get
alfalfa started as quickly as possible
on new land, the following method Of
lsoil management, carefully followed
ought to put the seed bed into good
condition. IN pa. 5:* s$ sss. ss
PloW during the spring or early
summer, to a depth of five to six in
lches, and double disc the land i'm
Immediately behind the pillow. Through
July and August keep the surface stir
red to keep down the weeds, and to
maintain the moisture conserving
mulch. During the latter part of Aug
ust or the early part of September,
Turkey Red fall wheat may be sown,
1 or the field may be allowed to remain
until spring and seeded to- some of
the spring crops like fax, hulless bar.
Hey macaroni wheat, or early oats.
The following spring the stubble land
should be plowed and carefully worked
down. Before this second plowing,
| which should be very thoroughly done,
the soil ought to be in good condition,
and the native sod fully subdued. The
Hand should then be allowed to lie with
out a crop and handled under a sys-
TEN Of sintellige summer tillage. The
weeds should be kept down and a loose
mulch established on the surface after
every wet period This summer till
tlage. accumulate ties moisture for the sue
leeeding year and abiishes favorable
conditions for making available the
plant food in the soil, @5:..s;35- -
lHsS an5st dry land Il alfalfa should be
seeded as early as the soil is in CON
Idition to cultivate, the spring after
the summer tillage just mentioned.
r'rom 8 to 10 pounds or IS quarts) of
l5seed should be put down to moisture,
land no nurse cfop should be planted.
Seeding dry land alfalfa with a press
drill #hastens germina alton by packing
1.-The moist soil close around the seed
Ilsson such land seed should never be
l:soWn broadcast. 800
During the first season the young
1!alfalfa field y should be cut over to
Essseep down the weeds and encourage
deep roofing in the crop. TO run the
mower over the field when the alfalfa
E..s to 10 inches high i and allow the
hay crop to lie on the ground as q pro
lection to the root crowns is helpful
10 the young crop. No hay should be
taken from the field the first year. and
the first seasons crop should not be
Epastured on
Commencing the second spring, and
during each succeeding season, the
field should be double disced as soon
as dry enough This prevents the es-
cape Of moisture and, BIZ splitting the
root crowns thiekens the stand of al.
|sfalfa Discing should also he prac.
Fticed after the first. crop of hay Is ne
moved. For this cult walton the disc
should be set SO as TO pulyerize the
face soil put not turned suficients
$50 gonge out the root crowns