The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1913-08-22
Alfalfa Easily Raised In Garrard County
And Once A Stand Is Secured, Pro-
duees A Never Failing Crop Of
Hay In Spite Of Drought
And Weather Con-
ditions.

Drought, more or less severe. seems
to strike this country every year. The
hay crop. crop which in order to prove
success must have rain at lust the
proper time, is perhaps more seriously
affected than any other crop by the
drought, and two out of three crops in
as many years have proven almost
complete failures, and as a result the
farmer has been compelled to pay ex-
orbltant prices for hay to winter his
stock. In view of such conditions, the
farmer begins to speculate as to how
ne can remedy such state of affairs.
The remedy seems ready to his hands.
Alfalfa has been successfully raised in
Garrard county under proper handling
and conditions; there have been failur-
es, many of them we will admit, but
their cause is attributable to the lack
of proper information, or failures to
take the proper care in attempting to
raise this valuable crop.
The secret of the success of this crop
may be summed up in a very few words:
the absolute essentials to successful
culture are, drainage, deep soil, sweet
land, or land free from acid, thorough
preparation of seed bed and properly
inoculated seed. These essentials com
piled with, and you may have a never
failing hay crop, producing from two
to three crops of good hay each year,
regardless of climatic conditions.
The best way to raise alfalfa is after
some cleaning crop, such as rye, peas
or something that will eradicate the
weeds; the land should be thoroughly
and carefully prepared, and treated
with 500 pounds of acid phosphate to
the acre, this can be secured from any
phosphate works at net cost of about
SIT. per ton; two tons to the acre of
carbonate of lime, crushed limestone,
which will cost you net SIPS per ton
and about ten tons, or twenty wagon
loads of ordinary stable manure, the
above quantities are for one acre of
ground. The seed may be secured from
any seed house. About twenty pounds
should be sown to the acre and should
be sown now as soon as possible, the
18th of August is considered the best
time, or anyway at least six weeks
before the coming of frost Too much
care cannot be taken in the incubation
of the seed; the matter for the inocu-
lation may be secured free of charge
upon application to the Commissioners
of Agriculture, Washington d C. Tell
HIM how much ground you wish to cul-
tivate, and he will send you the proper
amount. Spread your seed out and
pour this matter, which comes in a
liquid form, over the seed, drop by
drop, being careful to work it thorough
ly through the seed, then place in a
suitable place to dry, but be careful
not to allow the seed to dry in the sun.
The seed can be either drilled or-broad-
casred and lightly narrowed in.
Farmers who have followed the above
suggestions have been remarkably sue
cessful with this crop and the returns
they have had have amply repaid for
the outlay both in labor and expense.
Mr.. Thomas Rankin who lives on the
Old Danville pike near town is one of
our farmers who has been successful;
Mr.. Homer Tinsley is another farmer
who is well informed as to the proper
mode OF culture of this crop. and we
are sure either of these gentlemen
will take pleasure in imparting all the
information at their disposal to any
farmer who contemplates raising a
crop of this splendid hay producer.