The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-10-12
THE GROWING OF ALFALFA IN
South Carolina.
South Carolina Experiment Station
Press Bulletin No. so.


ber Of injuries in regard to alfalfa
received at this office. Our expert
ments with this crop will not warrant
our recommending it as safe one
for this State. Our soils can be made
to grow it, and it is being done in sew
eral sections of the State, with fairly
good results. but the large number
Of failures and the cost Of producing
1t are drawbacks to success with this
crop. The farmer can rely with more
certainty on cowpeas. sorghum and
peas and oats and vetch. With these
crops he can secure better results,
and with less cost.
For those who are contemplating
the growing of alfalfa, one Of the best
ways Of getting results is to start pre-
pairing the land at least one year pre-
vious to the time Of sowing the seed
Unless the land is rich, we'll drained,
and free from weed and grass seed. it
will not be profitable to SOW alfalfa.
In the fall, break the land deep, and
apply ton OF lime per acre, harrow
Ing this In well. In about one week
apply stable manure at the rate Of
five to ten tons per acre, and harrow
this in. Then, during some moist Pc
riod In September, or October, the
earlier the better, SOW bur clover,
crimson clover or vetch. inoculating
the seed when sown or use soil from
the field where the crop has been
grown successfully. Use a liberal
amount Of complete fertilizer at this
time. In the spring as soon as the
crop Is taken from the land, plow
1t deep and thoroughly again, and
apply 1000 pounds Of lime. Sow COW
peas broadcast, and give a liberal ap.
plication of complete fertilizer. Do
not apply stable manure at this time,
as 1t will serve to spread weed and
grass seed. The stand of peas should
be thick In order that the weeds and
grass will not get started. In the fall
cut the peas for hay and plow the
land shallow, or II 1t Is a light sandy
loan. discing Is all that Is necessary.
Apply lime again at the rate Of 1000
pounds per acre and harrow it in.
Alfalfa should not be sown on a loose
and dry seed bed Sow the seed dur
Ing some moist period between the
last Of September and the middle Of
October. at the rate OF rs pounds per
acre broadcast. and harrow them In
lightly InOculating will be necessary
and can be done either by inoculating
the seed with Farmogerm before
sowing. or by applying two hundred
pounds Of soil from an old alfalfa
field broadcast per acre. Farmogerm
will give good results II used proper
ly. Use as fertilizer at the time Of
planting about 200 pounds OF COM
plete fertilizer. narrowing 1t in with
the seed.
II one wishes to plant alfalfa with
out going to the trouble Of starting
one year early and getting the land
In good condition, we would suggest
that lanG which has been in cowpeas,
or some clean cultivated crop, be
used. Break the land deep and thor
oughly. and apply lime at the rate OF
zoo pour ds or more per acre. Do not
apply any stable manure unless Il Is
thoroughly decomposed and free
from weed and grass seed. Otherwise
| the sowing OF the seed should be
done in the fall, the same as in the
above described method.
In the spring If weed and grass get
started In the field, 1t should be mow-
ed as often as necessary in order that
they do not get ahead Of alfalfa. Un-
der no circumstances should weeds
and grass be allowed to mature seed
In the field. Where there are no
weeds and grass to give trouble, cut
| tings should be made as often as the
plants are in full bloom or little be-
fore.
f. G. Tarbox, Jr.
Assistant to Agronomist