The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1912-09-13
CULTURE OF ALFALFA
Crop Should Be sown on LAM
Containing Water.
Grimm Variety Of Seed 10 Recommend
cd for Most Northern States and
Should 30 Of Good Quality
Method Of Seeding.

Should Be OF Good Quality Il
Method Of Seeding.
Dickinson. N. D.. substaliou.)
The ground selected for aieaafs
should be we'll MANFRED. plowed veil
and planted to corn, potatoes or t0
some cultivated crop. This cultivated
crop should be kept very clean durinS
the period Of growth.
In early spring Of the year following
the previously cultivated land should;
be disked or well narrowed. Lateis
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 10 conserved. but
perhaps tho main thing is to kill OF
the young weeds. which will terminate
during April and May. We find Ns.
quite important to keep the new al
falfa crop as free from weeds az pos
s:ble, az young alfalfa plants are mott
good weed fighters.
1t is quite important that alfalfa be-
sown on land that contains somess
stored water. This enables the youneS
alfalfa plant to push its roots down
with rapidly during the first season.
and a good foundation is laid NPr the
development of an extensive root e5Ss
tenn, which is important II alfalfa IL to
flourish under Jul dry land conditions.
II alfalfa is own on soil that con-
tains no stored water, then the plants
will be stunted the first season. the
tap root will not develop as 1. should.
and the crop may be shortened for.sev-
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. II 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 10 i!n-s
furious to the germs. An advantage
in starting with a small patch is that
when the patch 10 we'll inocu.
lated a farmer has an ABUNDANCE
Of alfalfa dirt to inoculate larger areas.
Our experience with the Grimm al
falfh' leads US to recommend this var
iet7 for most northern areas. Care
should We taken to secure Grimm Of;
known g~enuineness. a. there are deaf
ers who are offering common alfalfa
seed as genuine Grimm. South Dako-
t. or Montana seed IL Of second choics..
Alfalfa seed should be Of good quail
ity. It should terminate 80 per cont.
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 IL best done In late May or
In early June. Late in May one has
had . chance to kill weeds in the Held
which is designed for alfalfa, and
also rains are generally abundant, to
hasten the growth Of the plant. Al
fslfa should be sown without . nurse
crop. especially II the ground 10 clean.
Seed Is best sown with . drill 1t
depth Of one inch, n even two inches
in light soil.
This il a very important point In
semi.arid districts. It 10 necessary;
that the alfalfa stand be thin where
tho rainfall Is limited In order that
the root system may attain excellent
development. The rate Of sowing
depends on many things. II. onseeoMs
hardy, viable seed and the condi.
lions are good. then I'VE pounds pef
acre 10 probably suficient in areas Of
diminished rainfall. In this case II To-
understood that the sowing ID. to be
done in six or seven inch drills.
In the semt-arid districts seeding IL.
falfa In cultivated rows for hay pro-
duction demands serious considerations.
From results up to the present time
1t would appear that in many districts
this method Of culture will produce the
greatest net returns. When seeded In
this manner. from one and . half to
two pounds Of seed per acre. provid.
cd II II Of good quality, will bel sul-
ncient amount.
Alfalfa terminates rapidly, and d.
der favorable conditions will be up u
i've days. Very often rains pack tt
dirt. and II the soil 10 sandy . thin
hard crust 10 apt to be formed through
which the young plants cannot force
their way. II would not 30 safe Nv
give this any ordinary cultivation, bat
. hollow wooden cylinder through
which many nails are driven. tie
points Of the nails projecting TO tho:
outside. should be used. II would %.
in effect . slight rolles studded VIZ
many nails. ss
Lsttues for the Flock.
Wild lettuce 70 . plant which
usually regarded O Q worthless Woons
and It 10 when It bscomss too ploaf1s
full. but the leaves. when young. aSsSIIaa
very tender and are relished ~ q
poultry that 10 confined n ab13SS
varAg II 0ffnn hannnna als0 thnk 49,