Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-06-03
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Land for AIfalfa.-Alfalfa will
grow on almost any soil that is we'll
drained and contains plenty of lime.
Preparation Of Seed Bed.-Alfalfa
is a delicate plant when young, so
needs to have conditions right. The
seed bed should be firm and positively
; must be moist and as free from
weeds as possible. These conditions
are best secured in a field that was
in clearly cultivated corn or pota-
toes the year before! or that was
summer. titled. In either case 1T
should have been deeply plowed the
previous easOn In the spring har-
row early to start the weed seeds and
harrow after rains. II discing is nee
essary, disc shallow.
Ca-e-The first season., effort
should be made to keep the alfalfa
free from weeds. II the weeds over
shadow the alfalfa, clip the field. 1t
Is preferable, however, to keep the
weeds down so this will not be neces-
. sary.. If the alfalfa is weedy or the
ground is hard the next spring, har-
row the field. Afterwards, cultivate
each spring by means of some good
tool If the soil is baked hard and
needs loosening up. A good growth
should be left each fall. Do not let
stock run over the alfalfa fields dur.
ing the fall, winter or early spring.
When to Cut For Hay.-Cut the al.
falfa for hay when the new shoots
start from the crown. This is usually
when about 0ne.tenth in blossom. If
the new shoots are high enough to be
cut off with the mower the next crop
Is hurt. If it is dry new shoots may
not start and seed will form.
How to cure.-The most valuable
part of the alfalfa plant is the leaves.
They contain more than half the food
value. In curing do not allow the
leaves to get dry and break off. 1t
Is through the leaves that the moist.
mre from the stem escapes, when they
become dry this moisture cannot get
out so easily. As soon as the alfalfa
begins to wilt. rake into windows,
where it will dry fully as fast as in
the swath and the leaves will be kept
on. AS soon as a handful a be twist
ed in two without squeezing out any
moisture it is ready to stack, even
though perfectly green in color, pro-
vided the ground Is dry and there is
no external moisture, as rain or dew,
on the leaves.
? Manurina l~mportant.-lt gives the
plants a better start. A good way is
to apply rotted manur for the corn
or potatoes or before the summer
tilling. that precedes the alfalfa.
Time to Sow.-Sow in the latter
part of May or June. The alfalfa plant
when first starting likes warm wealth.
er. This also gives more chanse to
terminate and kill the weeds, previ-
Jus to sowing.
Amount ard How to Sow.-Sow in
6-inch drills or in 30-inch rows, de-
pending on the moisture conditions.
Sow 5 to 10 pounds per acre in the
6inch drills and in the 30-inch rows,
l to 2 pounds. Sow with a drill run
shallow, putting the seed into moist
soil, but not over ! IL inches deep.
To. make the drill SOW this small
amount use reducing rings or dilute
the alfalfa seed with corn meal,
cracked corn or any cracked grain.
Inoculate.-The alfalfa is depend
ent upon bacteria for its welfare. If
these are not in the soil they need
to be introduced. This can be done
by using some soil from a well estab-
lished alfalfa field or sweet clover
patch and sowing broadcast on a
cloudy day at the rate of 100 to 200
pounds per acre (harrow I'M. Five
to 10 pounds of the screened soil for
each acre can be mixed with the
seed and sown with it. This takes
less soil. as it is in contact with the
seed. 1t costs very little to inoculate
and in many cases it makes the differ