The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1912-06-27

from fourteen to eighteen inches
apart. Care, however, must be taken
that the trenches are not run down
steep grades, which would cause the
water to run in the trenches. The
covering of the seed must be left to
the rains and the wind. After the
plants are about siv inches above the
surface Of the ground, then the fin.
al leveling process must be begun by
means Of a common harrow by fire.
quent narrowing. This narrowing
should be continued until the field is
leveled, and the CROWNS we'll buried
to a depth of at least four inches.
Second, that by the buried crown
method, the farmer, can easily gain
an extra crop, for the reason that the
| buried crop will throw out, late in the
fall, large number of sprouts, which
will remain below the surface of the
| ground and thus keep alive, waiting
for spring that they may start grow
ing again at the first call of growing
weather; thus often making a growth
of from six to eight inches before the
exposed crown RECEIVERS from the
rigors Of the past winter.
| Third, that the covered crown me-
thod is the only way by which an al
falfa field can be made permanent or
everlasting; thus Is explained and
established, the truth embodied in
the German name for alfalfa, which
is Ewiger Klee, or Eternal Glover.
By the buried crown method, that
part OF the top growth which is Gov
cred with Soil, never dies. Frost
does not affect it. 1t lives through
the winter, and not only lives, but
| develops independent small roots; if
any injury befalls the main tap root
or the crown, these little feeder
roots become independent tap roots,
and a new crown is developed just
above the old crown; so it often
happens, that where one crown is
destroyed by mole or other rodent,
as many as twenty new crowns take
the place Of the one dead one.
Fourth, that by the buried crown
method, alone, soil cultivation and
moisture conservation can he prar-
ticed continuously without material
injury to the crowns. A field, under
this method, can be disced or har-
rowed with spring tooth harrow, as
often as crop is taken off; or, if
only top mulch is desired to retain
moisture common harrow can be
run over the field without touching
the main crown. While in the case
Of the exposed crown, discing or even
!. narrowing Will wound the crown
: which causes rot to set in-the result
being weakening and consequent
death of the plant.
Fifth, that by the buried crown me-
thod, alfalfa culture can be carried
to successful issue in sections Of
the United Estates where heretofore
under the common practice, it had
proven rather uncertain specula
ton, owing to climatiu extremitie.
and heaving by ice-both being
guarded against by a fourinch soil
cover.
Sixth, that by the buried crown
method, never more than five pounds
of seed are required per acre, il
seeded broadcast, and considerable
less if planted with some kind Of 4
drill. The thin planting gives the
best results 10th in dry and wet sea
sons In wet seasons, the plant w.l
throw out several hundred stems, anl
completely took up all the available
space. In dry seasons. the plant no
only adjusts itself to the amount o1
available moisture, hut owing to IT!
stronger root development, is enabled
to collect more moisture and thu:
produce crop where thtckly planted
fields fail.
! In conclusion, I will say to the
friends of alfalfa, I hope that the
prophecy Of Alfred Wenz, of Browr
county, will come true. Mr.. Wen;
made the statement at the Farmers
institute at Faith, on March 18th, last
"This discovery Is worth millions OF
dollars to the farmers I'm South Da
kaota alone"