Mountain advocate. (Barbourville, Ky.) 1904-1935, 1912-07-19
CULTURE OF ALFALFA
Crop Should Be Sown on Land
Containing Water.
Grimm Variety Of Seed ls Recommend
ed for Most Northern States and
Should Be Of Good Qualify
Method Of Seeding.

Dickinson, N. D., Satisfactory
The ground selected for alfalfa
should be well MANFRED, plowed well
and planted to corn, potatoes or to
some cultivated crop. This cultivated
crop should be kept very clean during
the period Of growth.
In early spring Of the year following
the previously cultivated land should
be disked or we'll narrowed. Later
on the soil should be worked occasion
ally until late in May This working
of the soil serves two purposes. The
moisture in the soil is conserved, but
perhaps the main thing is to kill off
the young weeds, which will terminate
during April and May. We find 1t
quite important to keep the new al
falfa crop as free from weeds as pos
sible, as young alfalfa plants are not
good weed fighters.
1t is quite important that alfalfa be
sown on land that contains some
stored water. This enables the young
alfalfa plant to push its roots down
with rapidity during the first season,
development OF az extensive root sys-
TEN, which is important II alfalfa is to
flourish under our dry land conditions.
II alfalfa is sown on soil that con-
tains no stored water, then the plants
will be stunted the first season, the
tap root will not develop as |. should,
and the crop may be shortened for sew
eral years.
1t is apparent that most Of our up
land prairie soils will need incubation.
1t is necessary that certain bacteria
be found in the soil If they are not
there naturally they must be put there.
This planting of bacteria is called I'm
oculation." The best and safest meth
cd is to secure dirt from a successful
alfalfa field. This dirt should be
sowed over the field at the rate of 200
to 800 pounds per acre, upon a cloudy
day, and narrowed in. Sunshine is in
furious to the germs. An advantage
in starting with a small patch is that
when the patch is we'll inocu'
lated a farmer has an abundance
of alfalfa dirt to inoculate larger areas.
Our experience with the Grimm al
falfa leads us to recommend this var
iety for most northern areas. Care
should be taken to secure Grimm OF
known genuineness, as there are deal
ers who are offering common alfalfa
seed as genuine Grimm. South Dako-
ia or Montana seed is of second choice.
Alfalfa seed should be of good quail
lty. 1t should terminate 80 per cent.
or more, and should be free from foul
weed seed. Care should be taken to
secure alfalfa seed free from fodder.
Alfalfa seed may be sent TO Seed
Commissioner, Agricultural College,
North Dakota" for inspection.
Seeding is best done in late May or
in early June. Late in May one has
had a chance to kill weeds in the field
which is designed for alfalfa, and
also rains are generally abundant, to
hasten the growth of the plant. AL
falfa should be sown without nurse
crop, especially II the ground is clean.
Seed is best sown with a drill at
depth OF one inch, or even two inches
In light soil.
This is a very important point in
semi-arid districts. II is necessary
that the alfalfa stand be thin where
the rainfall is limited in order that
the root system may attain excellent
development. The rate of sowing
depends on many things. If one sows
hardy, viable seed and the condi-
tions are good then five pounds per
acre is probably sufficient in areas OF
diminished rainfall. In this case II is
understood that the sowing is TO be
done in six or seven inch drills.
In the semi-arid districts seeding al
! falfa in cultivated rows for hay pro
duction demands serious consideration.
From results up to the present time
| il would appear that in many districts
this method Of culture will produce the
greatest net returns When seeded in
| this manner, from one and a half to
two pounds OF seed per acre, provid-
ed It is OF good quality. will be a sut-
ficient amount.
Alfalfa terminates rapidly and I'M
der favorable conditions will be up in
five days. Very often rains pack the
dirt, and n the soil ia sandy thin
hard crust is apt TO be formed through
which the young plants cannot force
their way. II would not be safe to
give this any ordinary cultivation, but
a hollow wooden cylinder through
which many nails are driven, the
points Of the nails projecting to the
outside. should be used. II would be.
In eject a slight roller studded with