The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-27
TIE TIMES DISPATCH RICHMOND SUNDAY JULY 81 1918
GROW ALFALFA IN
HENR|CO COUNTY
CONTINUED From First Page


tender and are apt to be killed by
weeds during the carly stages OF
growth. For this reason 1t is essen
tial that the land be absolutely clean
and free Of weeds and grass.
As to Lime.
Therefore. If thorough preparation
and lining have not been done in ad-
vance. better prepare the ground for
next seasons seeding by lining now.
two to two and a half tons OF ground
limestone with 400 pounds OF lG por
cent acid phosphate. and SOW the
ground In crimson clover. the clover
20 be plowed under and followed by
cowpeas early next summer. then man
aged rs described above
Alfalfa is not catch or chance
crop. nor one intended for short rota-
ton or land upbuiiding The more
careful and thorough the preparation
the longer It will last and the greater
viii be the profits and satisfaction
from the crop.
Lime IS one OF the essential elements
for alfalfa. it's presence in the soil
Is absolutely necessary. alfalfa ash
contains $40. while red clover has but
2o.s per cent. and timothy has only
a per cent OF line.
Selection Of the seed Is very import
ant. All seed should be tested for
vitality and impurities weed seeds.
etc. before buying. /, IS we'll to Sc
cure samples from moro than one
source. number them. If mailed TO the
writer they viii be tested at the De-
partment Of Agriculture. Washington.
Do 1t Now.
Every farmer who has no alfalfa
growing ehould. Il possible SOW some.
II only small patch OF an acre or
less. this season. he Will then nave
!noculated soil for his own and his
ne!ghbo-s' use. VIII lind out its value
for himself. and will certainly increase
his acreage later.
Every animal on the place will eat
& and thrive on II. Dairy cows re-
quire protein feeds In order 10 pro
concentrates are expensive. however.
and can DE replaced b. a feed like al
faifa. Experiments made In regard TO
the repla cling % grain with alfalfa in
dicated that one and one-halt pounds
OF alfalfa Will replace one pound OF
wheat bran. This ;est showed that
with alfalfa hay at $40 ton and
wheat bran at $50, the saving affected
by substituting alfalfa for wheat bran
was $3.50 Tor every 100 pounds o.
butter. and nearly 20 cents for every
$40 pounds OF milk Alfalfa makes a
great saving In feed bills. and should
make the dairy farmer who grows
enough OF hard corn and ensilage IN
dc pendent o, the feed dealer
7. O. SANDY, OF Burkeville. State
agent for the farmers demonstration
work, advises sowing twenty FIVE
pounds OF alfalfa and eight pounds o.
red clover seed to the acre. then run
a smoothing harrow both ways 20 sc,
the seed in uniformly, follow with a
roller both ways"
Mr. Sandy is great believer and
one OF the most successful growers
OF alfalfa In the State He has issued
q paper on how 10 grow alfalfa in
Virginia" describing both spring and
fall preparation of the land.
Any one in this vicinity interested
in growing this crop. who would like
10 have a copy OF Mr. Sandy's paper
can have II by addressing a card 70
tho writer's ONCE. No. so7 East Frank
lin Street, Richmond, Va.
With permission OF the industrial
editor the growing OF crimson clover
l;e value as hay and for land upbuild-
ing. viii be the subject OF short let
ter next week.