Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1912-07-04


on succeeding wheat crops for a.
long rs ten years.
At the present time alfalfa is con-
ceded to be our best legume for the
dry lands, its deep roofing system
fitting it admirably To seek stored
water at great depths. Deep rooted
plants are decidedly preferably to
shallow rooted ones because they
penetrate INTO the subsoil. In this
way air and water find entrance,
especially after the roots decay. 1t
is supposed that alfalfa when plowed
under enriches the surface soil with
potash and phosphorus from the
subsoil, thus bringing those sub
stances within reach of the succeed
ing shallow-rooted wheat crops.
The summer fallow simply pro-
longs the time when smaller crops
and consequently smaller returns
must inevitably come from constant
soil depletion. 1t is easier to keep
soil up to its fertility if soil build
ing is started when the first crop is
taken off than if it is prolonged I'M
til the farmer is forced to it, due to
small returns. Taking plant foods
out of the soil without putting any
back is like drawing water out of IL
barrel; unless more i, put in the
supply will eventually he exhausted.
Thus far alfalfa planted in rows
both for seed and forage production
has in most instances proven sue
cessful. While it will most proba-
bly, resolve itself into II problem of
seed production in this district, due
to lack of sufficient moisture for
forage production, nevertheless it is
a paying crop, both financially and
as a soil improver. Alfalfa is one of
the few forage crops that can be de-
pended upon to make the most of
its growth on stored moisture; thus
it will readily take advantage of our
conditions here and do most of its
growing on winter precipitation.
On the dry lands alfalfa should
he planted on land previously fall
plowed and disked in the spring
and sown with Il disc drill. Plant
in rows not less than 80 inches
apart, sowing from one TO two
pounds per acre, depending ON the
quality of the seed. All seeding
should be done in the early spring
and especially before the hot wealth
er sets in. BY planting on pre-
viously disked ground a small clod
mulch will be formed which will
help conserve moisture until the
plants are up to such an extent as
to permit of cultivation. The seed
should be planted from one and one
half to two inches deep.
The first and second years growth
should be clipped. The second
years growth may be pastured, but
in no case should the first years
growth be pastured as the young
plants are very easily injured. The
third year should be the first year
of seeding for the young plants
This will insure a strong and vigor-
Gus plant with a good tap root
Thorough cultivation should he
given during the whole time the
crop is growing and until the seeds
are forming, when small clod
mulch should be left on the field
and cultivation cease until after
harvesting.
The most practical method to fol-
low when contemplating running
the farm through an alfalfa rotation
is to plant a few acres each wear
and when a sufficient number have
been planted begin blowing I'D as
much each year as is seeded, there
by keeping the acreage constant and
eventually running the whole farm
through a course of alfalfa produce
ton. BY this method, failures. if
they occur, are not serious, the land
will be much improved and there
VIII he a gnIIrca of ,,,.x.... a