Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-10-21
Preparation of Seed Bed for Alfalfa

Of the seed bed is of vital Importance.
Hundreds of dollars are wasted an
nually in this state because the prelim-
mary work has not been properly done.
The first thing that naturally sug
gests itself to the prospective alfalfa
growers is, where shall l SOW it?
What kind of soil have l on my farm
that is best adopted to the crop? AS
matter of fact, alfalfa will do we'll on
almost all kinds of soil if the proper
conditions are complied with And yet
VT hear so many men say 81 cannot
grow alfalfa on my farm"-in the COM
nunity in fact-when the truth of the
matter is they have not informed them
selves as to the necessary require
ments.
II is desirable to select a piece of
ground that naturally has conditions
OF drainage favorable. Alfalfa is
deep roofing plant and if in it's down
ward growth it reaches the water level
near the surface its growth is check
ed, and the plant does not get the
plant food from the lower strata that
! il ordinarily would. Surface drainage
is desirable also for the reason that
ice does not so readily collect on the
surface and smother out the crop. If
natural drainage is not possible then
artificial drainage must be resorted to-
A porous or permeable soil is always
desirable, but nevertheless the alfalfa
roots have an amazing power of pen
etrating soils that seem almost imper-
vious
I | am more than ever convinced of
| the necessity for clean cultivation, pre-
I vious to sowing the alfalfa, from my
observation of the season of 1912.
( Weeds and alfalfa will not do well to-
[ eether, and whether you favor spring
or summer sowing the soil should he
/ free from weeds. Weeds are severe
menace in northern Illinois.
/ In the first place the ground should
7 be disked ana narrowed if necessary
/ tefOre blowing, so that when the sur
face soil is turned under by the pillow
there will be no breaking up of the
capillary action, and SO that soil mois-
/ ture may continue to be brought up
/ &c the surface for the use of the alfal-
/ ia plant in time of drouth. favor deep
blowing, generally speaking, for al
falfa, although this is somewhat of a
broad matter and must de determined
by the farmer | wish to go on record
right here as saying that you can lay
| down no hard and fast rule for any of
these processes of farming and that
f.! the man who has the initiatiye-the
man who is quick to see, do the right
/ thing. and take advantage of condi-
items is the man who succeeds.
There are many soils that are
rather impervious below the pillow line
that will be benefited by some sort OF
deep cultivation. The amount of avail.
able moisture in dry time is deter.
mined by the condition of the subsoil
as well as the huenegs of the surface
soil. = soil that has been pIowed, OF
otherwise stirred to a depth of IS OF
IS inches Will hold more moisture in
suspension than will unplowed or sinai
low ground This is often a prom
ipent question in summer sown alfal
f. Neither should the ground be toe
loose: it should be compacted in some
way. II is not desirable TO SOW on new
~ plowed ground without disking
rolling or otherwise compacting the
surface. One of the tools in use fol-
q. this purpose is a two section role