Evening journal., 1913-06-24
College Experimental Station
Issues Bulletin on Alfalfa

The Delaware College experiment
al station has issued the following
article on alfalfa.
The high feeding value Of alfalfa
together with its large yielding ca
pacity, should interest every owner Of
live stock in this forage crop. That
alfalfa can be grown successfully in
this locality has been demonstrated
beyond a doubt during the past three
years. Cooperative experiments in
every country and upon all types OF
soil show that when the proper at
tcntion is given to the cultural re-
Quirements of alfalfa good yields can
be obtained The failures which have
attended the efforts of farmers in try
ing to grow the crop are attributed, in
nearly every case, to careless seeding
or TO lack of the proper soil treatment.
Some growers have been disappointed,
Ia growing alfalfa, to find that the
stand would run out in two or three
years They have found that grass
would finally come in and crowd out
the alfalfa. II is a mistake TO think
that a perfect stand Of alfalfa can be
maintained for a number Of years on
the average Delaware soil. Yet this
should not deter the farmer from
growing the crop even II he should be
able TO cut the crop for only two
years, as the increased fertility Of the
soil will give larger crops following
the alfalfa. This Is particularly true
of corn and wheat It appears that
alfalfa can be handled most profit
ably when promptly rotated with other
crops. The extra expense of prepar-
ing the sol land seding alfalfa will be
offset by the increased yields Of sue
ceeding crops. which will require but
little or no fertilizers.
Kind of SOil-Alfalfa can be grown
with fair success on all types of Della
ware soil, providing the soil is well
drained and properly treated The
sandy loan soils which are the pre-
dominant type I'm this State are ca
pable OF producing excellent yields Of
alfalfa. The sitter soils will grow al
falfa equally we'll, but more careful
Intention IS necessary in seeding. The
richest soil on the farm should be Sc
lected for alfalfa, as the young plant
requires an abundance OF plant food
60 become well established. 10 is use
Tess to attempt TO grow alfalfa on land
where crimson clover or red clover
fails 70 withstand the winters.
Preparation Of Soil--The prepara-
tion Of the soil for alfalfa should be
made with reference TO securing a
firm, moist, seed-bed. free from weeks
This end may be attained through the
use of a cultivated crop like early po-
tatoes, which may be removed in time
for alfalfa. After the potatoes are due
the land may be easily put in shape by
disking. Where an early crop does moi
precede alfalfa. It Is well TO plow the
land late in spring, work II down thor.
oughly. and harrow at intervals of Q
week. OF after each rain, until seeding
time. This method frees the land o
weeds and serves to retain moisture
In any case land intended for alfalf;
should be plowed several weeks be
fore seeding. The early potato crol
leaves the soil in a splendid condition
for alfalfa as considerable fertilizer
are used on the potatoes.
.,mo All soils in this locality re
lime for the best development
ilfalfa. 10 Is useless to attemp
10 grow the crop without lime. An
form Of lime may be used. At least on
ton of burned, prepared or hydrate'
ne should be applied Ground lime
stone. unbuFned. should be applied
IN double the quantity Of prepared
lime or at the rate Of two tons pei
acre The ground limestone is as ef.
fective In sweetening the soil as the
burned forms of lime. but acts a little
moro slowly. Ground or burned oys.
ter shells will serve the purpose also
II the prepared lime is used. apply tc
the soil a week or ten days before
seeding and harrow into the sol
thoroughly.
Fertilizers-Sta manure is one o.
the best fertilizers for alfalfa, bu
should be plowed under in the sprini
before seeding in August. The ap
plication of stable manure at the TIM
of seeding Is likely to result In
weedy stand Where a red clover o
crimson clover sod has been turne
down in the spring, a mixture of 80
pounds of acid phosphate and 10
pounds of muriate OF potash per acr
is recommended for fairly fertile Ian,
After early potatoes one-half th
above quantity is sufficient Wher
no stable manure or sod has bee
turned under recently, a fertilizer cor
tanning some nitrogen will be necel
sary. A 2-S-7 fertilizer applied at n
rate OF 600 TO 500 pounds per acre wi
give good results. In most cases,
the soil has been thoroughly pr
pared, no nitrogen need be used
starting alfalfa. Fertilizers shoul
h. arnffod t,,,r,,o1f,tof.. l.ofo~. en,lf.,