The Ordway new era., 1912-06-14
CULTURE OF ALFALFA
Crop Should Be SoWn on Land
Containing Water.
Grimm Variety Of Seed 10 Recommend.
ed for Most Northern States and
Should Be Of Good Quality
Method Of Seeding.
(By L. II. wALDRON. Superintendent,
Dickinson n ID lulslalian 4 nv

| (By l.. X. WAI.DRON. Superintendent
Dickinson. N. D.. SubstationJ
The ground selected for alfalfa
should be well manured. 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 well 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 of
the young weeds. which will germinate
during April and May. We find It
| quite important to keep the new al
falfa crop as free from weeds as pos
s:ble. 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.
and good foundation Is laid for the
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 1. should
and the crop may be shortened for sew.
eral years.
1t is apparent that most of our up
land prairie soils will need inoculation.
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 "in-
oculaiion." 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 300 pounds per acre. upon a cloudy
day. and narrowed in. Sunshine 10 In
furious to the germs. An advantage
in starting with a small patch 10 that
when the patch Is well 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-
tn or Montana seed Is of second choice.
Alfalfa seed should be OF good qual.
ity. It should germinntc 90 per celt.
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 chance to kill weeds in the field
which is designed for alfalfa, and
also rains are generally abundant 10
hasten the growth Of the plant. Al.
falfa should be sown without a nurse
crop, especially II the ground Is clean.
Seed is best sown with q drill at a
depth OF one inch. or even two inches
In light soil.
This Is very important point In
semi.arid districts. 1t 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. II one sows
hardy. viable seed and the condi.
tons 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
1t would appear that In many districts
this method Of culture will produce the
greatest net returns. When seeded In
this manner, from ono and a half to
two pounds Of seed per acre. provid.
ed 1t is Of good quality. will be a suf.
ficient amount.
Alfalfa germinates rapidly, and un.
der favorable conditions will be up in
five days. Very often rains pack the
dirt. and II the soil Is sandy a thin
hard crust Is apt to be formed through
which the young plants cannot 4. rce
their way. II would not be safe to
give this any ordinary cultivation, but
hollow wooden cylinder through
which many nails are driven, the
points Of the nails projecting to the
outside. should be used. It would be,
In effect a slight roller studded with
many mills