The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-27
GROW ALFALFA IN
HENR|C0 COUNTY
Demonstration Agents Think Soil
Well Suited to Its Ways
and Means.
BEST PAYING CROP OF DAY
lnoculation and the Use OF Lime.
Now Is the Time to
Begin.
BEST PAYING CROP OF DAY
By. j. c. HUNTER.
armers Demonstration Agent for
Hcnrico County


Alfalfa is about the most valuable
crop and by far the most valuable
forage crop that can be grown by the
FARMER in this or any other region
md 1t growing on every variety
or SOIL in Henrico County. On the all
luvial river bottoms. the elevated.
gravelly highlands and on every kind
and condition OF soil between those
extremes
But 1t can never be grown success
tuiiy on lands that require draining
nor on acid soils, and II would be waste
OF time and money to attempt TO grow
this crop before the land has been
properly prepared FOR II, but. as stated
above, there Is no forage crop grown
anywhere that will recompence tho
farmer more certainly and abundantlv
when he does comply with all the nee
essary conditions OF preparation and
fertilization
TO begin this season. piece OF we'll
drained land should be chosen where
hunus (decaycd vegetable n,attar, is
plentiful in the soil. An early notato
patch piowcd eight inches deep would
DO very we'll. II the land requires
limo. two to three tons OF ground lime
stone per acre should be applied on
the burrows and disked thoroughly into
the soil
The quality OF fertilizer needed VIII
depend upon the richness OF the soil.
but for fairly good farming land. acn
pounds of raw bone and 100 pounds
oi 10 per cent acid phosphate would
be a moderate application
For this seasons seeding the fer
tilizer might be applied at the same
time as the ground limestone and thus
receive the benefit of the thorough disk
ing which Will incorporate the ferti-
iizer with the surface soil as it should
he. There is no danger Of any loss
by applying the fertilizer early, as
phosphoric acid has an affinity for the
SOIL and cannot leach or be carried
away by rains.
If the soil needs potash. rs to 100
pounds Of muriate OF potash per acre
can be applied when the alfalfa seed
Is sown
incubation and Seeding.
II the soil requires incubation for
alfaifa, the surest way is to get soil
from thrifty alfalfa field, using not
less than three 10 four bushels to an
acre spread evenly over the surface.
This earth should not be left exposed
to the sun. but narrowed in at once.
as the suns rays seem to destroy the
bacteria to some extent 4 cloudy
day would be best for handling II
sometimes used successfully. II is APP
piled directly 10 the seed, and is the
easiest way. but I have known II Ia
fail or partially So when another por-
ton OF the field upon which the soil
was spread made n solid stand
Where the seeding nt alfalfa is to
follow cowpcas TO be turned under. II
the growth Is heavy the plowing should
be done early enough so that the mass
may have time TO become compacted
and the soil settled. as there is dan
ger of the surface soil drying out
after the seed has sermanated this
would XIII portion and result in a
poor, scattering stand
1t would be very unwisc to SOW al
falfa on poor or improperly prepared
land destitute of humus believe that
almost every one who has failed with
alfalfa has done so because OF insufi =
cient or careless preparation. or SOW
ing at the wrong season, when the
weeds and grass have taken posses
sion. Young alfalfa plants are very
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