The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1913-11-06
ALFALFA PRODUCTION.

ALFALFA PRODUCTION.
In the last issue of Better FARMING
News it was stated that the average
yield of fields seeded in 1912 was two
tons of hay per acre. Fields from 2 tt
4 year old produced an average yielt
of tons per acre. AS a rule giver
field of alfalfa will continue to yielC
an increased amount of hay from the
time it is one year old until it is five
years old providing the field is inocu
lated and is given proper care.
Farmers generally are beginning to
recognize the Importance of alfalfa
production and are beginning more
and more to study the best methods OF
handling the crop.
The following practices applied in
Barnes county have given the best re-
suits:
Nature Of Soils.
A we'll drained clay loan or sandy
loan soil give excellent results. On
very light soils containing large
per cent of sand from to II tons of
manure should be applied to the soil
and crop of corn raised on the land
the year Immediately proceeding the
alfalfa. The heavy clay soil of the
Sheyenne Valley seems to be espec-
tally adapted to alfalfa production as
it has produced some excellent fields.
Crop to Proceed the Alfalfa.
A cultivated crop that has been
MANFRED is without question the best
kind of crop to precede alfalfa.
Where a cultivated crop such as corn
or potatoes have been raised the soil
is in a higher state of cultivation, is
more compact, contains more moisture
and is in better physical condition.
Preparation of Seed Beds.
When alfalfa is to follow cultivat-
ed crop do not pillow the land. Tnlage |
of the land should be commenced, how
ever, early in the spring. Apply the |!
disc harrow as soon as the soil is in |
condition to work. Following this a |
shallow but we'll titled soil mulch !
should be maintained until it is time |
to sow the alfalfa. A shallow soil |
mulch is most successfully maintained |
with spike tooth harrow. Too much |
.discing and consequently deep and |
loose seed bed has often been obtain
ed. This as a rule results in poor |
stand or failure because the seed
will be in too deep or il seeded shall
low it will not come in contact with
the moisture and termination will be
prevented. In the preparation of the
seed bed the eradication of weeds is
also big object, for this reason the
application of disc harrow at certain
intervals becomes necessary. Prepare
the soil with the object In view of Sc
curing firm, clean smooth seed bed
where the soil moisture has been con-
served through the maintenance of a
shallow soil mulch.
Manures and Fertilizers.
Unless the land was MANFRED the
preceding year it is always advisable
to apply from to tons of well rot
ted manure per acre in the spring and
disc it into the soil. NJ commercial
fertilizers are here necessary nor ben
eficial. Our soils are naturally rich in
lime which obviates the necessity of
its application. This in fact is a big
asset to our soils.
Seeding.
The best time for seeding ranges
form June 16 to July 1st Seven
pounds of seed per acre has been
proved to be about the right amount
although with ideal soil conditions
and seed of high termination a less
amount may De sufficient Alfalfa
seed should be sown with drill at
depth of not more than one inch in
heavy soils and not more than two
inches in light soils.
incubation.
An alfalfa field with no chance of
becoming inoculated will die. It
should be explained that by inocula-
:ion is meant the introduction of GER
tain bacteria into the soil when seed
ing the alfalfa. This may not always
be necessary because the bacteria are
naturally present in some soils but
there is no way to tell this is the
safe way is to inoculate when sowing
the seed. The presence or absence of
incubation seems to make no. differ
ence in the appearance of the alfalfa
the first year If the field does not be-
come inoculated after the first wear