Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1914-05-07
bf5I TINE TO
SEED ALFALFA

There Ia little doubt that for the
Dakotas and Minnesota. alfalfa should
be seeded In the spring. Under favor
able moisture conditions In South Da-
kota and southern Minnesota alfalfa
might be successfully seeded after
winter rye or wheat, though not with.
out considerable risk from dry wealth.
er and early frost.
The cost Of alfalfa seed, and the i'm.
portance OF securing q good. strong
growth the first year. warrant giving
t. full possession of the soil for the
entire season. Sharp frosts may In
jure or even kill young alfalfa, hence
1t is advisable not to seed until Buc!.
danger Is past.
In case the land Is known to be rath.
er foul. it should be double.diskcd
early. and all weeds kept down by
narrowing or disking until the middle
of June or even later. This overcomcs
the weeds and puts the soil In good
shape. There is danger. however. in
seeding later than July list, that dry
weather will damage tho alfalfa.
Amount and Method Of Seeding.
There ere more alfalfa seeds in ona
pound than there are plants on the
average acre of alfalfa that is three
years old. This indicates that it is
not a question Of pounds of seed, but
Of securing good seed, and providing
conditions that will make the seed
grow to strong. vigorous plants.
Only good, strong. acclimated seed
should be sown-Grimm alfalfa holds
first place as to hardness. and Mon
tana grown seed seems to give sat
isfaction in nearly every instance.
There ia undoubtedly great differ
ence In Seed though perhaps not so
much as some advertisements would
indicate. The experiment stations
should be consulted as to kind and
source Of seed, and samples submitted
to them for purity and termination
tests.
In the dryer sections on a properly
prepared seed bed, Ave pounds of seed
per acre sown with a grain drill has
given an ample stand Eight to twelve
pounds Ia usually recommended for
average conditions If the seed is drin.
ed In; If sown broadcast, one-half
more seed should be sown. II grass
seeder Is not available to use on the
drill. the seed should be mixed with
some other fine material to give 1t
bulk and prevent leaking and drilling
too thick.
Owing to variations In drills, a meas
ured quantity of the mixture should be
put in Che drill and the area Of land
seeded by this amount noted, 80 ms
to be certain that the proper amount
of seed is being put on. Fine screen
ed sawdust. bran, cornmeal, or parch-
ed miliet may be used. Inoculated dirt
! Is used when dried In the shade, but
is rather hard on the drill. Two parts
OF bran to one of seed, with drill set
at one-half bushel of wheat per acre.
should seed about the right amount.
| Alfalfa seed should not be planted
/, very deep-the depth depending some.
what on the soil. II the seed bed Ia
in proper condition. sufficiently solid,
and moist, ono inch should be deep
(, enough. The seed bed should be 80
| solid that the drill wheels do not sinl;
! in more than an inch. which will ad
init Of regulating the depth of the
disks accurately. The seed should moi
be Gown unless the moisture In the soil
ia within one inch of the surface-il
1 IL waate Of seed and work to plant
In a dry soil. Press wheels for flrning
the soil on the seed In the drills are
very important.