The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1914-12-17
BREEDING OF ALFALFA
Interesting Experiments Made at
South Dakota Station.
Tests Not only important In Dis
eovery Of Varieties Adapted to
Arid Conditions, But to
Cultivation.

Cooperative tests by drought.re-
slsting alfalfa from Siberia have been
made by hundreds OF farmers in
South Dakota under the direction of
N. Il. Hansen, horticultural OF the
experiment station at Brooklngs, s. ID.
The experiments have been impor-
tant not only in the discovery OF va
rieties adapted 10 arid conditions, but
also In working out better methods
OF cultivation. The results are given
In Station Bulletin 14l. and seem to
t=dicate transplanting of one year
roots, instead OF seeding, In getting
stand on dry land Readers de-
string a complete report should OBJ
tain n copy OF the bulletin.
Ny experience, SAYS the author OF
the bulletin Is that by raising alfalfa
plants in well inoculated soil, every
plant Is abundantly provided In the
course OF the first season with nod
ules containing the nitrogen-gather-
ing bacteria 80 essential to the
growth OF the plant This reason
alone would be a very strong one in
favor of this new method, since there
is much complaint due to lack OF in-
oculation in many soils. and the farm
er can see the nitrogen-gathering bac-
terra nodules with his own eyes.
My belief is that the present meth
DDS OF disking are extremely injuri'
Gus; that we should not mutllate al
falfa plants by disking and narrowing.
Ia In, Htutln Of ta
present recommended practice, but ex-
animation OF many plants that have
been split through the heart with tho
disk or harrow shows they heal with
difficulty and many are blackhearted
or diseased, giving free access TO bac-
terra. An alfalfa plant should be good
for at least four centuries. but this
means that the heart OF the plant
must be held sacred a field set out
In plants can be cultivated one way
Ike fodder corn and then laid by for
the season. BY giving each plant
just the right amount OF space in the
beginning. this useless mutilatlng OF
the plant Is avoided. At Ipswich I
found 20 plants to the square foot:
plants on two and one-half square
inches-all OF them being as big as a
darning needle
Alfalfa plants in this springs dem
onstrations were set two feet apart
In the rows. with rows three feet
eight inches apart so that the com.
mon corn cultlvator can be used My
opinion Is that they should be given
cultivation one way just like fodder
corn but perhaps check row machines
will be devised to make feasible cross
cultivation in early spring and after
each cutting.
Alfalfa is very poor lighter tho
first years as the main strength goes
below the ground, tence It Is often
choked out by weeds which make
more top than root. But by setting
out a good sized alfalfa plant. often
as big as your middle finger, they
can hold their own better against ;hs
weeds.
The plants should be raised the first
year In good garden soil that Is well
inoculated. They may be transplant.
ed In the autumn OF the first year but
the bulk OF them should be kept In
outdoor cellars. such as used for stor-
ing potatoes or trees. or they may be
heeled In close together in furrows
made with a plow In 1910 at this
station on piece OF good garden soil
60xl65 feet. $4,000 Orenburg plants
we're raised, which Is about two hun4
dred and twenty thousand plants per
acre. Probably much more could bs
done II no cut worms, etc. appear.
These were raised in drills. much Ike
carrots and beets. For the purpose
OF raising the most seed. perhaps
single plants in hills 2x4 feet may
be better than sown close together In
rows. At this rate. II set 2xi feet. or
5.445 plants per acre. one acre would
raise enough plants TO set 40 acres.
OF course the best method for the
maximum seed production will deyel-
op with further experience. After
seed OF these new varieties becomes
abundant, every farmer can follow HIS
own method for raising aaad