The Glenwood post., 1913-04-12
Q Q . . . . . . . . . . Q 9 9 9
@ FARM, FIELD AND FIlESIDE {.
@ .
o BY Members of the Faculty Of >
Q ColOrdo 0sa4s Agricultural Q
@ College, Fort Collins Q


Increasing the Production Of Alfalfa
The results Of experiments with ~
falfa have clearly shown the possibii-
ty of improving this valuable crop.
Comparative tests and systematic
methods of seed selection have been
carried on to fix, combine, and develop
the superior traits that have been
found in some Of the best strains of
ahalfs from different sections of the
world But to do this and increase the
progenies of these types for commercial
use, will require several years to &C.
eomplish. In the meantime, present re-
suits seem to fully justify the advice to
farmers, to SOW the Baltic or Grimm 3
alfalfa seed, especially when the seed
ing is made with view to seed pro-
proved to be among the best. There are
points of decided merit in these over
most of the imported and ordinary
strains of alfalfa.
Some of the points of superiority
found in these hardy northern strains
can be enumerated as follows:
!. Hardness and frost resistance
They have the ability to survive winter
conditions where ordinary alfalfa has
failed or has been seriously injured
This is due to the difference in the
stooing habits, the hardy strains hav-
ing protected underground buds and
shoots spreading beneath the surface
of the soil, while the non hardy types
grow more upr ght with treir buds ex-
posed to frost.
.. Better Quality of Hay-These
strains having heavier stoo'ing habits
form larger crowns, which send up a
greater number of stems that tend to
produce finer and more leafy hay.
3. More adapted to different soll
conditions: These heavy stooling types
have more branehed roots near the sur
face of the ground. They also have 4
tendency to take root from the lateral
branches of the crown, thus making
this type of alfalfa better adapted to
shallow SOL, or soil with ground waite.
near the surface. They are also better
development must be necessarily near
the surface as the plant must develop
from superficial moisture. Yet under
irr CATION these strains seem to have
,I
falfas.
Early blooming hafits: This doubt
less is an advantage in several respects
For instance, iengthening the period
for honey flow, and earlier maturity
of the first crop Of hay, thus length.
ening the time for subsequent crops to
develop. Early blooming is also an ad.
vantage in seed production.
1t is the aim and plan Of the Colo
rado Experiment station to foster the
Improvement and production of better
alfalfa, by encouraging farmers who
are favorably situated and otherwise
qualified to specialize in growing al
falfa for seed production, thus devel-
oping an alfalfa seed growing industry
to produce improved falfa seed.
Alfalfa On DRY Land
There is a vide interest in informa
tion for growing alfalfa on dry land,
and many attempts to seed alfalfa ars
made each year, but with almost as
foil nnit 1nA "a
Poor preparation Of the soil before
hand and trying the ordinary thick
seeding method which over pastures
the soil moisture, the result Is . fail
nre, but there are, however, successful
attempts in growing alfalfa on dry
land.
The experience Of q dry land farmer
who started right will be of interest to
many who are thinking of trying to
seed alfalfa.
February 9, 1912, h E. Hess Of Deer
Trail, Colorado, addressed an inquiry
to the experiment station which set
forth the following:
81 am living On homestead 81
miles southwest Of Deer Trail have
sg,Tal4-1 .x.-..,- =. ~ S.AluA Aor Iui &C
yearA One piece of about IN acre.
has been deeply plowed and well cul-
tiyated. intend to plant it to Grimm 4
alfalfa in the spring; will plant in
rows ~ inches apart and cultivate for
tAs purpose Of raising seed. Where
SaA I buy the Grimm seed, and how
Ooeh will I nsedf
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