The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1914-07-17
I NEBRASKA ALFALFA ROTATION
Many Fields Are Allowed to Become
SO Hard That Water Runs OF and
Never Soaks Into Soil.

Reports have been received from
176 Nebraska farmers as to the ef-
feet of alfalfa on subsequent crops.
the state being divided into two halves
from north to south. at the point OF
24-inch rainfall.
In TIE dry country not undertake
with water crops after alfalfa break
ing the first year, especially if a dry
one. may be lessened, but almost all
farmers agree that subsequent re-
turns more than make up for this, and
that crops stand drought better. az
might be expected. from the subsoil.
ing by the roots. Even in regard to
the first season only 80 farmers re-
ported q decrease.
At Lincoln, Neb, August q, 1912,
the following percentages of water
were found in the first six feet Of
SOIL
Fallow and soil mulch. .26.1
corn ............ ............... ga
Wheat stubble ..................2 1888
These figures point to the advantage
of early breaking. Corn grows rap
idly on alfalfa land at the start and
subsequent rainfall Is apt to be in
adequate. so a small corn will be
advisable. Many farmers reported
that they never plowed alfalfa
up, and this is likely wise as long as
the stand ia sufficient.
think there 10 another point worth
considering. The old plants. though
thin, may and likely are engaged in
trying to penetrate some hard subsotl
which may separate from streak OF
moisture. and If they are allowed to
do this at . depth beyond our reach
they are doing valuable work which
we are unable to duplicate.
Keep the weeds down on top and
give them every encouragement. The
hay crop may be coarse, but 1t ID
pretty sure. Even II there Is no un.
DERIVING water the soil Is being deep
ened to receive water from above and
take it in on a gradual manner.
Many alfalfa fields are allowed to
become SO hard that the moisture runs
of and never soaks down more than
couple of feet In summer. Thin
stands OF alfalfa produce valuable
crops of seed and in old fields there
has been a natural selection OF the
most drought-resistant plants prob
ably of those with the greatest root ac-
tivity.
1t takes quite a bit of corn to pay
as much net as alfalfa, and though
reseeding an old field Is seldom prac-
teal, cultivation will cause the old
plants to spread out and cover the
ground fairly we'll unless they are very
thin.
You can find prosperous dairy farm
ers in every locality. There are neigh
bors who don't make the cows pay. 1t
is in the men. not in the soil.
The farmer who arranges his work
so as to be busy all the year around
and to keep his men busy all the year
around is the man that gets the largest
profit and has the least trouble with
help.
Do not ask the COW to make milk
and keep herself warm with the same
feed. At least give her a fair chance
to be protected from the storms and
then let her use the feed for milk
making alone.
In the addition of manure to the
garden, much will be gained II 1t is
thoroughly decomposed, as then it is
more quickly Incorporated with the
soil, and the plant food it contains is
most readily available. r"".
| Making the stallion earn his feed by
moderate work outside the actual
breeding season, will, leave the fees
from his breedig service practically
clear gain; besides insuring him a
more vigorous constitution for trans
hitting to his offspring.
There is never a time in the year
when the fruit grower has no use for
his pruning knife.
MEI som 0'SHAIIGHNESSY