Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-08-14
The Stranpile
Alfalfa Seed Bed,

Alfalfa Sssd Bed.
In Illinois alfalfa is hes, seeded in
July or August. bur before seeding the
seed bed should be persiscently work
&c, and thoroughly prepared. II the
sol. Is acid or sour il should be sweet
ened thru the application OF air. Stacked
lime or finely ground limestone. II the
field is wei, worn liberal dressing %
manure will act as an insurance
against probable failure. Disk the
surface OF the unplowe6 land, after
dressing with manure. until q mulch
OF loose soil is on the surface. Plow
now 10 depth OF six inches or deep
er, and Immediately disk ard harrow.
roll and drag unit! you have seed
bed At 20 sow onion seed In. Now ap-
ply your lime or limestone and again
harrow. This should provide an en-
vironmen. for alfalfa seed which. with
one addition. will not only supply the
factors necessary Tor gerninati but
for rapid growth and development as
we'll.
The remaining requisite at least on
most soils o. the state. IS !nocuiating
with the nitrogen gathering bacteria
that use the alfalfa as a host plant.
This may be applied when the seed is
being sown, if you use drill for Sow
ing. OF j, may be applied broadcast
either Immediately before or immeci-
a,ely after the sowing. In either in
stance when sowed broadcast .t Should
be narrowed 81, at once. To secure the
inocu,a,.ng bacteria. take the surface
or from under thrifty sweet clover
plants and scatter rais soil over the
eeld, remember. however, 10 harrow
Immediately after sowing the inoculat-
ing soil. /, would be we'll also 20 use
the glue method OF inoculatsng the
seed
In seeding alfalfa SOW either with
a drill or broadcast from sstesn 70
twenty pounds OF seed per acre. II
the seed Is tested and terminates
strongly, a less quantity may be sewn
especially when the drill Is used. Seed
ing should place the seed not over one
and one-haif inches below the surface
OF the ground. unless the soil and sea-
son is very dry. After the Alfalfa ap-
pears and covers the ground the next
step is 10 see that il is not choked ous
by crabgrass, toxtail. smart weed anc
other undesirable growth. If these
bother and grow faster than :ne aiiai-
IA ga into the field with mower and
clip everything repeatedly. II sown
during the summer there is little DAN
ger OF these weeds interfering serious
II. Leave a good growth for protec-
ton thru the winter. Early IN the
spring you viii be surprised ana oe-
lighted with the early. vigorous CROWN
made by this plant.
II you have no alfalfa on your farm
SOW some within the next two months
If you now have a small area, increase
the acreage. Don't let anything prevent
YOU from having some Of this wonder
fully recuperative. marvelously pro-
ductive forage, whose feeding value
ton for ton, Is practically that OF wheat
bran.-Il:inois Farmers Institute.
Questions For Farm Boys.
I How does water down in the sol
come up to the surface:
. How does butterfly hold tts
| wings when at rest:
3. Why are many Insect esss !aa(
OF the under side Of leaves?
4. What is the natural meaning o.
white on the rabbits tail?
5. Why are some cattle and mules
striped?
6. Do pebbles grow larger or small
er as they Grow older? Why?
I. Why do little lambs play on higf
| objects?
| 8. What are the life changes in
| frog from egg to adult frog?
9. Why do some mother birds pre-
tend TO be crippled when you NEE
| them?
10. Why do all the stars move abou
| the north star?
Keeping on;oae Over Winter.
| To keep onion sets thru the winte1
| Is rather risky business for one nav
! ing no experience or proper conven
! fences Probably the safest way 10 U
| put them in cold storage. where IN
air is dry and the temperature KEEP
close to the freezing point. say "a De
grees. The following method has oeel
practiced by gardeners before colt
storage was 30 common: A layer Q
straw was spread on the floor OF Ion
| the same covered with sacks; thel
spread the sets about six or etgh
inches deep and keep perfectly dry
The sets were then allowed to freese
J and when thoroughly frozen wer
covered with two or more Tee
Of straw to keep them frosen oa
til spring. The sets should not p
disturbed while frozen. The aboH