The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1913-12-31
RAISE ALFALFA BY
DRY FARMING
Logan Man Produces Crop by Natural
Forces

Forces
Producing alfalfa by dry farming
methods and the studies made necessary
toward making the crop u success. as
has been dcac by James +. Pierce near
Logan, this county, makes IA story OF
vital interest TO those wishing well for
this section.
Mr.. Pierce began three years ago to
develop a tract Of medium tight land
bordering the Canadian river on the
north, six miles above Logan. Seven.
teen acres of the land was put out in
alfalfa which is producing yearly. With
improved methods which he il now
adopting ii is thought the yield will
double that of the past, the last year
allowing but one cutting because Of the
extreme drought. The improved meth.
od of cultivation which is original with
MIR. Pierce and which he does not wish
yet to be made public on account Of
the unfinished nature of the researches
show by partial trial great increase in
crop possibilities.
The preparation Of the ground is all
important, he finds. The ground shouy~
be prepared early in the spring, turning
under any weeds Ia get rid Of them and
TO form mulch. This holds any mois
ture which may fall.
As soon as the young weeds begin 20
grow and before they have formed the
seed, again turn them under so they
will not take the moisture from enc
ground
When to Sow
Alfalfa should be sown in mid.sum.
mer using a disc drill or sowing broad.
cast. Mr.. Pierce prefers the drill. Par;
ticular stress is laid on the point Of
Planting. The seed should not be deep.
er than one inch as the soil, constantly
tending toward packing, will preven,
the young shoots emerging from the
ground. The crop is left until the fol.
lowing March before cultivation is be.
gun. Then the ground should be opened
After each cutting the land should
be cultivated. This is very important,
as without cultivation, there will be
no crop. For this purpose a special
cultivator Is employed M il is found
that the disc cuts the crown or bunch
off the alfalfa.
Take Care Of Hay Early
Don't let the hay lie in the swath
over three hours. Rake 10 and put il
in the shock. Don't allow over two or
three days in the shock, depending on
the dryness fthe atmosphere. II more
than two or three days clapse from the
time the hay is cut until il is stored
in the stack, the small leaves will be
lost in handling as the plant dries, and
nothing but the stems will remain.
The Kind OF Soil Best
Feed the hay in trough or manger
to avoid loss Of the leaves. Buy the
best seed available for planting. Use
medium tight or mixed land These are
three of the axioms of this successful
farmer.
In the land which Mr.. Pierce has pus
alfalfa. there is a sixfoot slope in the
seventeen acre tract. To catch and
hold all the water possible, he has built
levee two feet high. This prevents
the further escape of the water during
rains and backs il up on the crop. This
spring he will attempt to throw two
additional smaller walls across the field
Water from the ajoinlng roadway and
pasture is ditched onto this field thus
saving the greatest waste from the pre-.
cipitation.
Other Crops Planted
Maize should be planted late in this
climate, according to Mr.. Pierce's ex.
perience. The best time as rule is
late in May or the first Of June. On
the other hand, sorehum should he put
in as early as April. Hafr corn, like.
wise, does best If planted in April. June
corn is IA dependable crop IL planted
in that month. Other kinds Of Indian
corn are unreliable.
Hungarian Millet Rarely Fails
A good crop is Hungarian millet. lie
has tried other kinds without success,
but has raised two tons of the Hun.
garian 30 the acre for the last four
years with but one failure. This crop
has paid best of any crop so far plant,
ed by him. II should be cut when the
bloom is ripe and stored before the
flower il dry or the best part will be
lost in handling