The Clovis news. [volume] (Clovis, N.M.) 1907-1929, 1913-06-26
alfalfa ON DRY LAND.
Many Failures Are Due to Poor
Preparation Of the Soil.
Experlence Of Farmer Who Started
Right VIII Be Found o. interest
20 Many-plant VIII Not Grow
Very Tall First Season.

By PH1Lo X BrINN. Alfalfa Special
ist. Rocky Ford. Coio)
There is q wide interest IN informa-
ton for growing alfalfa on dry land,
and many attempts to seed alfalfa are
made each year, but with almost as
many failures. Quite often, due to
poor preparation OF the soil before
hand and trying the ordinary thick
seeding method which over pastures
the soil moisture, the result is a fail
ure. but there are. however, success
full attempts In growing alfalfa on dry
land.
The experience OF a dry land farm
er who started right viii be Of inter
est 60 many who are thinking Of try
ing to seed alfalfa.
February 9, 1912, Mr.. II. p. Hess Of
Deer Trail, Colo, addressed an in
quiry to the Colorado experiment sta
ton, which set forth the following:
II am living on a homestead eight
and one-half miles southwest Of Deer
Trail, have farmed part Of my claim
for three years. One piece OF about
q and a quarter acres has been
deeply plowed and well cultivated.
intend to plant It to Grimm's alfalfa
An the spring; win plant in rows AZ
inches apart and cultivate for the
purpose Of raising seed, Where can
buy the Grimm seed, and how much
win I need7
my land Is not irrigated, the alti-
tude about $500. the soil clay loan.
originally covered VITA buffalo sod"
The above inquiry was answered as
fully as possible by letter, advising
that from description his deeply plow-
ed PIECE would be safe to try alfalfa
on. and that his plan outlined should
give success.
Under date Of Feb. y, 1918. Mr..
Hess again writes, as follows:
After receiving you letter I de
cided to try Baltic alfalfa, as you
seem to think Il equally good for hay
and better yield than the Grimm.
Il bought two and one-half pounds
OF the Baltic alfalfa seed and, after
disking the 1A-acre piece several
times and narrowing It twice, on May
Is. in the evening, / sowed in rows 3
feet 6 inches apart, using about IL
pounds per acre. / used a garden
drill to seed It, and on the morning Of
May %, less than five days. the al
falfa was up thick.
Il clipped It July 20, when 1t varied
from 6 to Q inches high, and again
August Is it was clipped, averaging
ffkt11 4,ff,- 4L,~ Az a~rt ftv,r "A
was clipped The alfalfa made a
nice growth until the ground froze VI
solid. I was surprised that It grew
so late In the aeason and during such
u~nfavorable weather.
"The clippings we're left on thC
ground for a mulch, and. although
did not cultivate last season the
ground did not crust over but re
manned loose. which I suppose was
due to the deep blowing I gave It The
year before.
II am glad you advised me to plan
the Baltic. I know It will do wei
next season because It is deeply root
ed and there are several feet Of mois
ture to keep It growing.
FROM what \ saw ueftl 4 CdHe v
the conclusion Of the following
points:
First. Alfalfa will not grow verl
tall the first season.
Second. Alfalfa requires decI
blowing and thorough preparation o
the seed bed.
Third. Each plant requires plentl
81 room to grow we'll"